Behavioural responses of indigenous benthic invertebrates (Echinogammarus meridionalis, Hydropsyche pellucidula and Choroterpes picteti) to a pulse of Acid Mine Drainage: A laboratorial study

The drainage of abandoned mines leads to several ecological problems, particularly the acidification of surface freshwater systems and heavy metal contamination. In order to study the possibility of using the behavioural early warning responses of Portuguese indigenous benthic invertebrates to detect an acute short-term pulse of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), experiments with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor MFB(TM) were performed and locomotion and ventilation were measured as endpoints. AMD was collected from the "São Domingos" mine (Southeast Portugal) and the following species were selected: Echinogammarus meridionalis (Pinkster, 1973), Hydropsyche pellucidula (Curtis, 1834) and Choroterpes picteti (Eaton, 1870). For simulating the pulsed exposure, AMD was added to river water where invertebrates were collected and pH was lowered until reaching 3.5. The effects of H+ and heavy metals were discriminated using HCl positive controls. In addition to behaviour, mortality was registered. E. meridionalis was the most sensitive species in terms of mortality and behavioural endpoints, followed by C. picteti and H. pellucidula. E. meridionalis early warning responses consisted of increased locomotion with subsequent increase in ventilation, whereas for C. picteti only an increase in locomotion was observed. H. pellucidula showed no early warning responses. This work demonstrates the suitableness of using benthic invertebrates' behavioural early warning responses for detecting spikes of pollutants like AMD.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VB5-4SN92M3-3/1/d6f668cd09b5a2fc28906c7f4eb3dea

Profile of depressive symptoms in women in the perinatal and outside the perinatal period: similar or not?

Purposes To analyze which Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Postpartum Depression Screening Scores (PDSS) total and dimensional scores, as well as symptomatic answers proportions significantly differ between women in the perinatal period (pregnant/postpartum) without major depression, with major depression and women outside the perinatal period. Methods 572 pregnant women in the third trimester completed Beck Depression Inventory-II and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale and were assessed with the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. 417 of these were also assessed (with the same instruments) at three months postpartum. Ninety non-pregnant women or that did not have a child in the last year (mean age=29.42±7.159 years) also filled in the questionnaires. Results Non-depressed pregnant women showed lower scores than depressed pregnant women and higher scores than women outside the perinatal period in the BDI-II total score and in its Somatic-Anxiety dimension. Non-depressed postpartum women showed significantly higher scores than women outside the perinatal period only at Sleep/Eating Disturbances. Compared to women outside the perinatal period, pregnant women without depression presented higher scores only in the somatic items. Women with vs. without depression in the postpartum period did not significantly differ and both presented higher scores than women outside the perinatal period in the proportions of loss of energy and sleep changes. Limitations Women outside the perinatal period were not diagnosed for the presence of a depressive disorder, but their BDI-II mean score was similar to the figures reported worldwide regarding women in childbearing age. Conclusion In the perinatal period, most particularly at pregnancy, women experience significant somatic changes even if not clinically depressed. Cognitive-affective symptoms are more useful when assessing the presence of perinatal depression

Construção de alternativas agroflorestais no Assentamento Tarumã-Mirim, zona rural de Manaus (AM).

Neste trabalho são apresentadas as atividades centrais de um projeto agroflorestal, em andamento, coordenado pela Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental com o objetivo de viabilizar sistemas de uso da terra sustentáveis. O projeto utiliza abordagem participativa com comunidades da zona rural de Manaus (Amazonas), em área com forte pressão antrópica, altos índices de pobreza e extrema relevância ecológica. São discutidos os princípios básicos do planejamento e a importância da pesquisa que caminha na direção da transformação de uma realidade, implicada diretamente na participação dos sujeitos que estão envolvidos no processo. A comunicação no processo de mobilização é dialógica, na medida em que não é transferência do saber, mas um encontro de sujeitos e interlocutores, o que torna o ser humano capaz de transformar sua realidade, sem imposições unilaterais

Perfeccionismo no transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e nos transtornos alimentares

OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem dois objetivos principais. Primeiro, avaliar as dimensões do perfeccionismo no transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e nos transtornos alimentares em comparação com duas amostras controle: psiquiátrica (depressão/ansiedade) e não clínica. Segundo, avaliar se o perfeccionismo é um traço de personalidade especificamente relacionado com estas diferentes condições clínicas. MÉTODO: 39 pacientes com transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo, 24 com transtornos alimentares, 65 com um diagnóstico de depressão e/ou ansiedade (todos estes pacientes encontravam-se em regime de ambulatório) e 70 controles não clínicos completaram a versão portuguesa da Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. RESULTADOS: Comparativamente à amostra não clínica, todas as amostras clínicas apresentaram níveis significativamente mais elevados na Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale total, no Perfeccionismo Auto-Orientado e no Perfeccionismo-Socialmente-Prescrito. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas no Perfeccionismo-Auto-Orientado e na Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale total nas três amostras clínicas. No entanto, a amostra com transtornos alimentares apresentou níveis significativamente mais elevados de Perfeccionismo-Socialmente-Prescrito, comparativamente à transtornos alimentares e à amostra psiquiátrica (depressão/ansiedade). CONCLUSÃO: O perfeccionismo revelou estar associado a uma grande variedade de condições psicopatológicas. Contudo, as diferenças encontradas entre a amostra de transtornos alimentares, de transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e a psiquiátrica no Perfeccionismo-Socialmente-Prescrito necessitam de investigação subsequente no sentido de clarificar a especificidade desta dimensão com os transtornos alimentares

Why should we screen for perinatal depression? Ten reasons to do it

In this paper we review some of the best available evidence to argue that screening for perinatal depression should be systematically conducted since pregnancy. Our view is organized in ten topics: (1) perinatal depression high prevalence; (2) its potential negative consequences, including maternal, conjugal, foetal, infantile, and child effects; (3) its under-detection and treatment; (4) its stigma; (5) the professionals and women misconceptions related to perinatal depression; (6) the availability of valid and short self-report screening instruments for perinatal depression and (7) their acceptability; (8) the increase in recognition, diagnosis, and treatment rates in comparison with routine practice; (9) the opportunity, given the large number of contacts that women have with health professionals in the perinatal period; and (10) perinatal depression screening potential cost-effectiveness

Transthyretin: No association between serum levels or gene variants and schizophrenia

It has been proposed that schizophrenia results from an environmental insult in genetically predisposed individuals. Environmental factors capable of modulating transcriptional activity and their carriers could link the genetic and environmental components of schizophrenia. Among these is transthyretin (TTR), a major carrier of thyroid hormones and retinol-binding protein (RBP). Retinoids and thyroid hormones regulate the expression of several genes, both during development and in the adult brain. Decreased TTR levels have been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with depression and Alzheimer's disease, and the absence of TTR influences behavior in mice. DNA variants capable of altering TTR ability to carry its ligands, either due to reduced transcription of the gene or to structural modifications of the protein, may influence development of the central nervous system and behavior. In the present study we searched for variants in the regulatory and coding regions of the TTR gene, and measured circulating levels of TTR and RBP. We found a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), ss46566417, 18 bp upstream of exon 4. Neither this SNP nor the previously described rs1800458 were found associated with schizophrenia. In addition, serum TTR and RBP levels did not differ between mentally healthy and schizophrenic individuals. In conclusion, our data does not support an involvement of the TTR gene in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T8T-4K12CM6-2/1/78223a224d1392e250f7562405e6796

Cancer Survivor Study (CASUS) on colorectal patients: longitudinal study on physical activity, fitness, nutrition, and its influences on quality of life, disease recurrence, and survival. Rationale and design

Purpose: Evidence suggests that being physically active in combination with a healthy diet contributes to diminish colorectal cancer risk. However, if this is true for colorectal cancer primary prevention, the same is not clear for its recurrence after colorectal cancer treatments. Data on cancer survival are scarce, and there is a need for greater attention on these survivors’ lifestyle behavior. This manuscript describes rationale and design of the Cancer Survival Study (CASUS) on colorectal patients, a longitudinal observational study with the aim of investigating how physical activity, physical fitness, and dietary intake are related with their quality of life, disease recurrence, and survival. Methods: The CASUS on colorectal patients is a longitudinal cohort study on colorectal survivors, aged 18 years or older, recruited 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Upon recruitment, patients fill in a battery of questionnaires about physical activity, dietary intake, and quality of life, donate blood samples, do physical fitness tests, and use an accelerometer during 7 days. Repeated analyses will be performed to assess changes over time in physical activity, physical fitness, dietary intake, and other factors in relation to recurrence and survival. Conclusions: Results will contribute to highlight the role of physical activity, physical fitness, and nutrition in the quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors, recurrence, and survival. This study will provide important information for policymakers on the potential benefits of future physical activity and nutritional interventions, which are inexpensive, as a way to improve general health of colorectal cancer survivors.Luisa Soares-Miranda is supported by the grant SFRH/BPD/76947/2011 funded by FCT (QREN-POPH-Type 4.1-Advanced Training, subsidized by the European Social Fund and national funds of MEC), PTDC/DES/099018/2008-FCT/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009573, and the Research Centre in Physical Activity Health and Leisure is supported by FCT: UID/DTP/00617/2013. Carla Costa is supported by the grant SFRH/BPD/96196/2013, funded by FCT (QREN-POPH-Type 4.1-Advanced Training, subsidized by the European Social Fund and national funds of MEC)