‘It’s the economy, stupid’: Lessons of a longitudinal study of depression in Argentina

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the variation in the prevalence of depression since the beginning of the quarantine and the evolution of risk factors, with special emphasis on the population’s concerns. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out using a digital questionnaire disseminated in social networks. The first stage (T1) was carried out from March 29 to April 12 and the second stage (T2) from May 23 to June 12, 2020. The prevalence of depression was measured using the 9-item Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results: The prevalence of moderate/severe depression increased from 24.3% in T1 to 47.8% in T2 (p: 0.000). Risk factors increased significantly: age 18–27, female, primary and secondary school, smoking and having a poor sleep quality (p: 0.000). The concerns about ‘a family member getting sick’ (OR: 1.28; CI: 1.04–1.58; p: 0.016), ‘changes at work’ (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.79–2.81; p: 0.000), ‘running out of money’ (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.20–1.71; p: 0.000) and ‘being unemployed’ (OR: 2.99; CI: 2.55–3.52; p: 0.000) were risk factors for depression. On the other hand, the concern about ‘getting the virus’ (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.61–0.87; p: 0.001) was not a risk factor. Conclusions: The extended quarantine in Argentina is associated with an increase in the prevalence of depression; the high impact of economic and social concerns on mental health must be considered in order to avoid long-term effects.publishedVersionFil: Badellino, Héctor. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Gobbo, María Emilia. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Torres, Victor Eduardo Roque. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Torres, Victor Eduardo Roque. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Torres, Victor Eduardo Roque. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina.Fil: Aschieri, María Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Lenguas; Argentina.Fil: Biotti, Martín. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez, Valentina. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Gigante, Camila. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Cachiarelli, Mabel. Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales; Argentina

Ethanol Activation of Protein Kinase A Regulates GABAA Receptor Subunit Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Contributes to Ethanol-Induced Hypnosis

Protein kinases are implicated in neuronal cell functions such as modulation of ion channel function, trafficking, and synaptic excitability. Both protein kinase C (PKC) and A (PKA) are involved in regulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors through phosphorylation. However, the role of PKA in regulating GABAA receptors (GABAA-R) following acute ethanol exposure is not known. The present study investigated the role of PKA in the effects of ethanol on GABAA-R α1 subunit expression in rat cerebral cortical P2 synaptosomal fractions. Additionally, GABA-related behaviors were examined. Rats were administered ethanol (2.0–3.5 g/kg) or saline and PKC, PKA, and GABAA-R α1 subunit levels were measured by western blot analysis. Ethanol (3.5 g/kg) transiently increased GABAA-R α1 subunit expression and PKA RIIβ subunit expression at similar time points whereas PKA RIIα was increased at later time points. In contrast, PKC isoform expression remained unchanged. Notably, lower ethanol doses (2.0 g/kg) had no effect on GABAA-R α1 subunit levels, although PKA type II regulatory subunits RIIα and RIIβ were increased at 10 and 60 min when PKC isozymes are also known to be elevated. To determine if PKA activation was responsible for the ethanol-induced elevation of GABAA-R α1 subunits, the PKA antagonist H89 was administered to rats prior to ethanol exposure. H89 administration prevented ethanol-induced increases in GABAA-R α1 subunit expression. Moreover, increasing PKA activity intracerebroventricularly with Sp-cAMP prior to a hypnotic dose of ethanol increased ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex (LORR) duration. This effect appears to be mediated in part by GABAA-R as increasing PKA activity also increased the duration of muscimol-induced LORR. Overall, these data suggest that PKA mediates ethanol-induced GABAA-R expression and contributes to behavioral effects of ethanol involving GABAA-R

EFEITO DE DIFERENTES FONTES DE FÓSFORO NA Brachiaria Brizantha CV. MARANDU CULTIVADA EM DOIS TIPOS DE SOLOS

O experimento foi realizado no Departamento de Ciência do Solo da Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes fontes de fósforo, no momento da implantação do capim Marandu, no conteúdo de fósforo (P), no teor de nitrogênio (N) e na produção de massa seca da parte aérea da Braquiária. Cultivou-se a forragem por um período de 180 dias em vasos (3 dm3), tendo como substratos os solos Latossolo vermelho distroférrico (LVdf) e Neossolo quartzarenico (NQ). Compararam-se as fontes de P: superfosfato triplo (ST - 46,1% P2O5 total), fosfato reativo de Arad (FR - 33,1% P2O5 total), fosfato natural de Araxá (FA - 22,71% P2O5 total) e uma mistura ST+FR (1:1 de P2O5 total). Forneceram- se 200 e 350 mg/dm3 de P para o solo NQ e LVdf, respectivamente, com base no teor de P2O5 total das fontes. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, disposto em esquema fatorial (2 solos x 4 fontes P), com quatro repetições. Com base na adubação nitrogenada de manutenção realizada sempre após cada corte, encontraram-se elevados teores de nitrogênio (N) nas folhas de braquiária, os quais variaram de 1,32 à 2,6 g/kg, para LVdf, e 1,01 a 2,82 g/kg, para o NQ, sendo a variação de proteína bruta (PB) em porcentagem de 8,25 a 16,25% e 6,31 a 17,62%, para LVdf e NQ, respectivamente. A resposta da braquiária às fontes de P foi dependente do tipo de solo, dadas as suas características mineralógicas. A produção de matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA) maior no NQ e o maior acúmulo de P ao final dos cortes foram observados na braquiária no LVdf. A utilização de fontes de P de maior solubilidade promoveu maior produção de MSPA. Os teores de N encontrados na braquiária foram elevados quando se utilizaram fontes menos solúveis como o FA e o FR. O crescimento e as produções de massa seca foram limitados, pela falta de fósforo no estabelecimento da planta. PALAVRAS-CHAVES: Adubação fosfatada, concentração, pastagem, proteína bruta, solubilidade

Receptor Reserve Moderates Mesolimbic Responses to Opioids in a Humanized Mouse Model of the OPRM1 A118G Polymorphism

The OPRM1 A118G polymorphism is the most widely studied μ-opioid receptor (MOR) variant. Although its involvement in acute alcohol effects is well characterized, less is known about the extent to which it alters responses to opioids. Prior work has shown that both electrophysiological and analgesic responses to morphine but not to fentanyl are moderated by OPRM1 A118G variation, but the mechanism behind this dissociation is not known. Here we found that humanized mice carrying the 118GG allele (h/mOPRM1-118GG) were less sensitive than h/mOPRM1-118AA littermates to the rewarding effects of morphine and hydrocodone but not those of other opioids measured with intracranial self-stimulation. Reduced morphine reward in 118GG mice was associated with decreased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and reduced effects on GABA release in the ventral tegmental area that were not due to changes in drug potency or efficacy in vitro or receptor-binding affinity. Fewer MOR-binding sites were observed in h/mOPRM1-118GG mice, and pharmacological reduction of MOR availability unmasked genotypic differences in fentanyl sensitivity. These findings suggest that the OPRM1 A118G polymorphism decreases sensitivity to low-potency agonists by decreasing receptor reserve without significantly altering receptor function

Determinants of linear growth from infancy to school-aged years: a population-based follow-up study in urban Amazonian children

Background: Although linear growth during childhood may be affected by early-life exposures, few studies have examined whether the effects of these exposures linger on during school age, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted a population-based longitudinal study of 256 children living in the Brazilian Amazon, aged 0.1 y to 5.5 y in 2003. Data regarding socioeconomic and maternal characteristics, infant feeding practices, morbidities, and birth weight and length were collected at baseline of the study (2003). Child body length/height was measured at baseline and at follow-up visits (in 2007 and 2009). Restricted cubic splines were used to construct average height-for-age Z score (HAZ) growth curves, yielding estimated HAZ differences among exposure categories at ages 0.5 y, 1 y, 2 y, 5 y, 7 y, and 10 y. Results: At baseline, median age was 2.6 y (interquartile range, 1.4 y-3.8 y), and mean HAZ was -0.53 (standard deviation, 1.15); 10.2% of children were stunted. In multivariable analysis, children in households above the household wealth index median were 0.30 Z taller at age 5 y (P = 0.017), and children whose families owned land were 0.34 Z taller by age 10 y (P = 0.023), when compared with poorer children. Mothers in the highest tertile for height had children whose HAZ were significantly higher compared with those of children from mothers in the lowest height tertile at all ages. Birth weight and length were positively related to linear growth throughout childhood; by age 10 y, children weighing >3500 g at birth were 0.31 Z taller than those weighing 2501 g to 3500 g (P = 0.022) at birth, and children measuring >= 51 cm at birth were 0.51 Z taller than those measuring <= 48 cm (P = 0.005). Conclusions: Results suggest socioeconomic background is a potentially modifiable predictor of linear growth during the school-aged years. Maternal height and child's anthropometric characteristics at birth are positively associated with HAZ up until child age 10 y.Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific DevelopmentBrazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific DevelopmentCNPq [551359/2001-3, 502937/2003-3, 307728/2006-4, 470573/2007-4]CNPqSao Paulo Research FoundationSao Paulo Research FoundationFAPESP [2007/53042-1, 2008/57796-3]FAPESPOrganization of American StatesOrganization of American States [20100656

Progressive skin fibrosis is associated with a decline in lung function and worse survival in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort.

Objectives To determine whether progressive skin fibrosis is associated with visceral organ progression and mortality during follow-up in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Methods We evaluated patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research database with dcSSc, baseline modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) ≥7, valid mRSS at 12±3 months after baseline and ≥1 annual follow-up visit. Progressive skin fibrosis was defined as an increase in mRSS >5 and ≥25% from baseline to 12±3 months. Outcomes were pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal progression, and all-cause death. Associations between skin progression and outcomes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression. Results Of 1021 included patients, 78 (7.6%) had progressive skin fibrosis (skin progressors). Median follow-up was 3.4 years. Survival analyses indicated that skin progressors had a significantly higher probability of FVC decline ≥10% (53.6% vs 34.4%; p<0.001) and all-cause death (15.4% vs 7.3%; p=0.003) than non-progressors. These significant associations were also found in subgroup analyses of patients with either low baseline mRSS (≤22/51) or short disease duration (≤15 months). In multivariable analyses, skin progression within 1 year was independently associated with FVC decline ≥10% (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.65) and all-cause death (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.31 to 5.09). Conclusions Progressive skin fibrosis within 1 year is associated with decline in lung function and worse survival in dcSSc during follow-up. These results confirm mRSS as a surrogate marker in dcSSc, which will be helpful for cohort enrichment in future trials and risk stratification in clinical practice

Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study

Objectives. Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations.Methods. SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results. The study included 9162 WP, 341 AP and 181 BP. AP developed the first non-RP feature faster than WP but slower than BP. AP were less frequently anti-centromere (ACA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4, P < 0.001) and more frequently anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATA) positive (OR = 1.2, P = 0.068), while BP were less likely to be ACA and ATA positive than were WP [OR(ACA) = 0.3, P < 0.001; OR(ATA) = 0.5, P = 0.020]. AP had less often (OR = 0.7, P = 0.06) and BP more often (OR = 2.7, P < 0.001) diffuse skin involvement than had WP.AP and BP were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension [OR(AP) = 2.6, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.7, P = 0.03 vs WP] and a reduced forced vital capacity [OR(AP) = 2.5, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.4, P < 0.004] than were WP. AP more often had an impaired diffusing capacity of the lung than had BP and WP [OR(AP vs BP) = 1.9, P = 0.038; OR(AP vs WP) = 2.4, P < 0.001]. After RP onset, AP and BP had a higher hazard to die than had WP [hazard ratio (HR) (AP) = 1.6, P = 0.011; HR(BP) = 2.1, P < 0.001].Conclusion. Compared with WP, and mostly independent of geographical location, AP have a faster and earlier disease onset with high prevalences of ATA, pulmonary hypertension and forced vital capacity impairment and higher mortality. BP had the fastest disease onset, a high prevalence of diffuse skin involvement and nominally the highest mortality