Insights into the peroxisomal protein inventory of zebrafish

This is the final version. Available on open access from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: All datasets generated for this study are included in the article/Supplementary Material.Peroxisomes are ubiquitous, oxidative subcellular organelles with important functions in cellular lipid metabolism and redox homeostasis. Loss of peroxisomal functions causes severe disorders with developmental and neurological abnormalities. Zebrafish are emerging as an attractive vertebrate model to study peroxisomal disorders as well as cellular lipid metabolism. Here, we combined bioinformatics analyses with molecular cell biology and reveal the first comprehensive inventory of D. rerio peroxisomal proteins, which we systematically compared with those of human peroxisomes. Through bioinformatics analysis of all PTS1-carrying proteins, we demonstrate that D.rerio lacks two well-known mammalian peroxisomal proteins (BAAT & ZADH2/PTGR3), but possesses a putative peroxisomal malate synthase (Mlsl) and verified differences in the presence of purine degrading enzymes. Furthermore, we revealed novel candidate peroxisomal proteins in D. rerio, whose function and localisation is discussed. Our findings confirm the suitability of zebrafish as a vertebrate model for peroxisome research and open possibilities for the study of novel peroxisomal candidate proteins in zebrafish and humans.Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)European Union Horizon 2020Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG

Association between regular participation in sports and leisure time behaviors in Brazilian adolescents: A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The belief that adolescents engaged in sports increase their overall physical activity level while simultaneously decreasing physical inactivity has been the foundation of many intervention programs in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between regular participation in sports and both active behaviors and TV viewing during leisure time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1752 Brazilian adolescents (812 = male and 940 = female) participated in this study. Regular participation in sports, as well as active behaviors (exemplified by walking or cycling) and TV viewing during leisure time were assessed by means of a questionnaire. The chi-square test analyzed the association between sports practice and leisure time behaviors, and the Poisson regression with robust variance indicated the magnitude of these associations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of regular participation in sports was 14.8% (95% confidence interval 13.2% to 16.5%). After adjustment for all confounders, participation in sports was associated with, at the highest frequency, cycling (PR = 2.55 [1.80–3.60]) and walking (PR = 2.69 [1.98–3.64]) during leisure time. However, there was not an association between the participation in sports and frequency of TV viewing (PR = 1.28 [0.81–2.02]).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study presented data indicating that the regular participation in sports is positively associated with a higher frequency of physically active behaviors during leisure time. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that the engagement in sports necessarily decreases leisure time spent in TV viewing.</p

Sexual activity among female teenagers: a comparison between two groups of middle class adolescents from a private clinic according to pregnancy status Atividade sexual em mulheres adolescentes: uma comparação entre dois grupos de adolescentes de classe média de clínica particular de acordo com estado gravídico

OBJECTIVES: to investigate patterns of sexual activity among teenagers. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted between July 1998 and September 2000, among 117 sexually active female adolescents from a private clinic, in the city of the Osasco, State of São Paulo, Brazil. They were divided into two groups: one pregnant group (PG) comprised 62 adolescents that were either pregnant (46) or had previously been pregnant (16); another group of 55 female adolescents that had never been pregnant (NPG). During consultations with these subjects, a physician conducted a semi-structured interview. Knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to sexual activity were evaluated. The comparison between the two groups was carried out using Student's t test, the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: the two groups showed considerable similarities in terms of sexual behaviour, having engaged in the first sexual intercourse at the age of 15 and having had an average number of sexual partners of 1.5. Nevertheless, adolescents in the PG group had initiated sexual life earlier and tended to use less contraceptive methods during the first intercourse. Despite widespread knowledge of contraception, a large number of the adolescents did not use any contraceptive method during first sexual intercourse. In their current sexual life, an average of 81% of the participants referred to attaining orgasm. CONCLUSIONS: knowledge about contraceptive techniques is not enough to avoid unplanned pregnancies, suggesting the importance of investigating other psychosocial aspects of motherhood and maternal identity among teenagers.<br>OBJETIVOS: investigar padrões de atividade sexual em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal realizado entre julho de 1998 e setembro de 2000, com 117 mulheres adolescentes sexualmente ativas oriundas de clínica privada, em Osasco, São Paulo, Brasil. Foram constituídos dois grupos: um grupo de grávidas (PG) com 62 adolescentes que estavam grávidas (46) ou tiveram gravidez prévia (16); outro grupo não grávidas (NPG), com 55 adolescentes que nunca engravidaram. Uma entrevista semi-estruturada foi conduzida pelo médico durante consulta clínica. Foram avaliados o conhecimento, atitudes e práticas acerca da atividade sexual. A comparação entre os grupos foi feita por meio do teste t de Student, qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS os dois grupos eram similares quanto aos aspectos sexuais, sendo a coitarca na idade de 15 e a média do número de parceiros, 1,5. Entretanto, adolescentes no PG iniciaram vida sexual mais cedo e usaram menos métodos contraceptivos na primeira relação sexual. Apesar do grande conhecimento sobre contracepção, parte considerável das adolescentes não usou nenhum método durante a coitarca. Na vida sexual atual, cerca de 81% das participantes refere atingir orgasmo. CONCLUSÕES: o conhecimento sobre técnicas contraceptivas não é suficiente para evitar gestações não planejadas, sugerindo a importância de investigar outros aspectos psicosexuais da maternidade e identidade materna entre adolescentes