Regional white matter anisotropy and general intelligence in preterm born children: a voxelwise analysis

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A Perceção do Funcionamento Familiar e Saúde Mental dos Bombeiros

A literatura tem-se debruçado no estudo do funcionamento familiar em diferentes contextos familiares, de forma identificar quais as características que se associam a uma maior capacidade de ajustamento das famílias. Dada a pertinência da temática, optámos por estudar o funcionamento familiar e a saúde mental dos bombeiros portugueses. Participaram 232 bombeiros de diferentes corporações do país, 97 mulheres e 135 homens, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 61 anos. O protocolo de investigação incluiu os seguintes instrumentos de recolha de dados: Questionário Sociodemográfico, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV; Sequeira, Cerveira, Silva, Neves, Vicente, Espírito-Santo & Guadalupe, 2015) e Inventário de Saúde Mental (MHI-5; Pais Ribeiro, 2011). Os resultados evidenciam que bombeiros revelaram níveis elevados de bem-estar psicológico e de saúde mental. Também percecionaram o funcionamento das suas famílias como equilibrado, com uma boa comunicação, mas com uma baixa satisfação com a família. Conclui-se que é importante pensar intervenções no sentido do ajustamento ao contexto de adversidade com que os bombeiros de deparam, mantendo e melhorando a sua saúde mental, bem como potenciar o funcionamento ajustado das famílias para que estas se constituam como fontes de suporte e ajustamento. / Family functioning has been a issue of study in different family contexts, in order to identify the characteristics that are associated with a greater adjustment of families and individuals. Given the pertinence of the theme, we chose to study the family functioning and mental health of Portuguese firefighters. In this study participated 232 firemen, who belong to different corporations in the country, 97 women and 135 men, with aged between 18 and 61 years. The investigation protocol included the following instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV; Sequeira, Cerveira, Silva, Neves, Vicente, Espírito-Santo & Guadalupe, 2015) and Inventory of Mental Health (MHI-5; Pais Ribeiro, 2011). Results showed that firefighters have high levels of psychological well-being and mental health. They perceived the functioning of their families as balanced, with good communication, but with low family satisfaction. We conclude that it is important to develop interventions that promote adjustment to adversity and improvement of mental health. The adjustment of family functioning is very important, so that family constitutes a support source.AO (Author's Original

White matter volume and anisotropy in very low birth weight preterm born children: association with cognitive outcome

INTRODUCTION: Low birth weight premature infants are at risk of brain injury, especially to the white matter. These complications result from either the inability to repair the lesions acquired around birth, or disruption of the normal maturation process. It has been shown in normal and disease populations that white matter parameters are associated with cognitive function (1-3). We hypothesize that mean white matter volume and anisotropy are reduced in children who were born very low birth weight (2500grams) and that these parameters of white matter damage correlate with cognitive outcome …published_or_final_versio

Microwave and Millimeter Wave Techniques

Contains reports on four research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAB07-74-C-0630)National Science Foundation (Grant MPS-73-05043-A01

Interaction of Akt-Phosphorylated Ataxin-1 with 14-3-3 Mediates Neurodegeneration in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one of several neurological disorders caused by a CAG repeat expansion. In SCA1, this expansion produces an abnormally long polyglutamine tract in the protein ataxin-1. Mutant polyglutamine proteins accumulate in neurons, inducing neurodegeneration, but the mechanism underlying this accumulation has been unclear. We have discovered that the 14-3-3 protein, a multifunctional regulatory molecule, mediates the neurotoxicity of ataxin-1 by binding to and stabilizing ataxin-1, thereby slowing its normal degradation. The association of ataxin-1 with 14-3-3 is regulated by Akt phosphorylation, and in a Drosophila model of SCA1, both 14-3-3 and Akt modulate neurodegeneration. Our finding that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling and 14-3-3 cooperate to modulate the neurotoxicity of ataxin-1 provides insight into SCA1 pathogenesis and identifies potential targets for therapeutic intervention