Harmony of transitions in assessing interpersonal motivations in transcripts analysis can discriminate between Adult Attachment Interview secure and disorganized individuals

SUMMARY. Aim. Assessing Interpersonal Motivations in Transcripts (AIMIT) is a validated coding system to assess the activation of interpersonal motivational systems (IMS) in the transcripts of psychotherapy sessions. The Transition Index (TI) is an AIMIT measure that reflects the levels of organisation, synchronisation and harmony amongst two or more IMS when they are rapidly shifting or simultaneously in the clinical dialogue. It is supposed to be a measure of integration and coherence of the patient’s state of mind within the psychotherapeutic sessions. It has also been hypothesized that low TI could be a marker for disorganization of attachment of the patient leading to difficulties in the therapeutic relationships and ruptures in the therapeutic alliance. In order to assess this hypothesis we tested its capability to discriminate between Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) organized and disorganized individuals. Methods. Two groups of 15 transcriptions of AAI matched for age and sex, one classified as free-autonomous and one as disorganized, were analysed by the AIMIT method. Results. Compared to organized individuals, disorganized patients at AAI reported lower TI scores (3.7±0.63 vs 3.0±0.53; F=2.98, p=0.005). Furthermore, TI showed a good discriminant capability (Wilks’ Lambda=0.77, p=0.004). Discussion and Conclusion. This result seems to confirm the usefulness and reliability of AIMIT analysis in evaluating the interpersonal difficulties which often characterize the therapeutic relationship with disorganized attachment patient

Generación de conocimientos sobre el cuidado al recién nacido en UTI Neonatal: contribución de la Enfermería brasileña

Esta pesquisa documental teve como objetivo refletir sobre o estado da arte na Enfermagem brasileira acerca do cuidado ao recém-nascido em UTI neonatal. A fonte de pesquisa foi o Banco de Teses e Dissertações da Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem. Foram identificados 81 estudos. A análise dos dados foi feita em duas etapas: primeiro realizamos a caracterização dos trabalhos; após, organizamos o material a partir de dados evidentes nos estudos, dando lugar às categorias temáticas: cuidado centrado nos aspectos fisiológicos do recém-nascido; a família que acompanha os cuidados ao recém-nascido em UTI neonatal; e a equipe de saúde que atua no cuidado ao recém-nascido em UTI neonatal. Constatamos que a pesquisa em enfermagem busca novas formas de cuidar, e proporciona uma aproximação entre a teoria e a prática, garantindo sua sustentação enquanto profissão, e contribuindo na produção de conhecimento em neonatologia.Esta investigación documental tuvo como objetivo reflexionar sobre el estado del arte de la Enfermería brasileña respecto de los cuidados al recién nacido en UTI neonatal. La fuente de la investigación fue el Banco de Tesis y Disertaciones de la Asociación Brasileña de Enfermería. Fueron identificados 81 estudios. El análisis de los datos fue hecho en dos etapas: primero, realizamos la caracterización de los trabajos, y luego organizamos el material a partir de datos evidentes en los estudios, dando lugar así a las categorías temáticas: Cuidado centrado en los aspectos fisiológicos del recién nacido, La familia que colabora con los cuidados al recién nacido en UTI Neonatal y El equipo de salud que actúa en el cuidado del recién nacido en la UTI Neonatal. Se constató que la investigación en enfermería busca nuevas formas de cuidar y proporciona una aproximación entre la teoría y la práctica, garantizando su sustentación como profesión y contribuyendo a la generación de conocimientos en Neonatología.The objective of this documentary study was to reflect on the state of the art of nursing in Brazil regarding care given to newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The data source used was the Brazilian Nursing Association base of theses and dissertations. Eighty-one studies were located. Data analysis was performed in two stages: first, the study's characterization was performed; second, the material was organized according to data evident in the study, resulting in thematic categories: care centered on the newborn's physiological aspects; care provided to the family accompanying their newborn in the NICU; and the health team providing care to the newborn in the NICU. It was found that nursing research seeks new forms of care and brings theory closer to practice, thus guaranteeing its support of the nursing profession and contributing to the production of knowledge in neonatology

ReBaTSA: A simplified CeTSA protocol for studying recombinant mutant proteins in bacterial extracts

Introduction The study of protein stability is crucial to biochemistry and relies on different methodologies. Recently, the Cellular Thermal Shift Assay has been introduced to study protein stability in whole cells. Methods We report a novel application of CeTSA named ReBaTSA. This Recombinant Bacterial TSA was performed using clear extracts from bacteria expressing a recombinant protein, incubated at different temperatures, centrifuged and analyzed via SDS-PAGE. Results and conclusions We demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of this simplified approach. We validated the method using the protein phosphomannomutase-2 and its common mutants, which were compared in the presence or the absence of a known ligand

E-Learning for Rare Diseases: An Example Using Fabry Disease

Rare diseases represent a challenge for physicians because patients are rarely seen, and they can manifest with symptoms similar to those of common diseases. In this work, genetic confirmation of diagnosis is derived from DNA sequencing. We present a tutorial for the molecular analysis of a rare disease using Fabry disease as an example

Mortalidade materna por hemorragia no Brasil

OBJETIVO: analizar las tasas de mortalidad materna debida a hemorragia, identificadas en Brasil durante el periodo de 1997 a 2009. MÉTODOS: fueron examinados los datos de series temporales y de población del Ministerio de la Salud de Brasil, del Sistema de Información de Mortalidad y del Sistema de Información de Nacidos Vivos. Del Sistema de Información de Mortalidad, inicialmente seleccionamos todos los informes sobre muerte de mujeres con edad entre 10 y 49 años, que ocurrieron entre el 01 de enero de 1997 y el 31 de diciembre de 2009, en Brasil, clasificadas como "muertes maternas". RESULTADOS: durante el periodo de investigación, fueron identificadas 22.281 muertes maternas, entre las cuales 3.179 se debieron a hemorragia, siendo responsables por 14,26% del total de muertes. La tasa más alta de mortalidad materna fue encontrada en las regiones Norte y Noreste de Brasil. CONCLUSIONES: el escenario brasileño muestra desigualdades regionales en lo que se refiere a mortalidad materna; este presenta la hemorragia como un síntoma y no como la causa de la muerte.OBJECTIVE: to analyze the rates of maternal mortality due to hemorrhage identified in Brazil from 1997 to 2009. Methods: the time series and population data from the Brazilian Health Ministry, Mortality Information System and Live Birth Information System were examined. From the Mortality Information System, we initially selected all reported deaths of women between 10 and 49 years old, which occurred from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2009 in Brazil, recorded as a "maternal death". RESULTS: during the research period, 22,281 maternal deaths were identified, among which 3,179 were due to hemorrhage, accounting for 14.26% of the total deaths. The highest rates of maternal mortality were found in the North and Northeast areas of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: the Brazilian scenario shows regional inequalities regarding maternal mortality. It presents hemorrhaging as a symptom and not as a cause of death.OBJETIVO: analisar a razão de mortalidade materna devido a hemorragia identificada no Brasil, durante o período de 1997 a 2009. MÉTODO: análise de dados populacionais com série temporal. Os dados foram obtidos nos Sistemas de Informações de Mortalidade e Nascidos Vivos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Foi selecionado, para análise, o total de óbitos de mulheres com idade compreendida entre 10 e 49 anos, que ocorreram no período de 1997 a 2009, e que foram registrados como "morte materna". RESULTADOS: durante o período de pesquisa, 22.281 mortes maternas foram identificadas no Sistema de Mortalidade e, dessas, 3.179 foram devido a hemorragia, respondendo por 14,26%. A razão de mortalidade materna esteve mais elevada nas Regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil. CONCLUSÕES: o cenário brasileiro mostra desigualdades regionais em relação à mortalidade materna. A hemorragia é apresentada como um sintoma, e não como uma causa de morte

Enzyme Replacement Therapy for FABRY Disease: Possible Strategies to Improve Its Efficacy

Enzyme replacement therapy is the only therapeutic option for Fabry patients with completely absent AGAL activity. However, the treatment has side effects, is costly, and requires conspicuous amounts of recombinant human protein (rh-AGAL). Thus, its optimization would benefit patients and welfare/health services (i.e., society at large). In this brief report, we describe preliminary results paving the way for two possible approaches: i. the combination of enzyme replacement therapy with pharmacological chaperones; and ii. the identification of AGAL interactors as possible therapeutic targets on which to act. We first showed that galactose, a low-affinity pharmacological chaperone, can prolong AGAL half-life in patient-derived cells treated with rh-AGAL. Then, we analyzed the interactomes of intracellular AGAL on patient-derived AGAL-defective fibroblasts treated with the two rh-AGALs approved for therapeutic purposes and compared the obtained interactomes to the one associated with endogenously produced AGAL (data available as PXD039168 on ProteomeXchange). Common interactors were aggregated and screened for sensitivity to known drugs. Such an interactor-drug list represents a starting point to deeply screen approved drugs and identify those that can affect (positively or negatively) enzyme replacement therapy

The age-regulated zinc finger factor ZNF367 is a new modulator of neuroblast proliferation during embryonic neurogenesis.

Global population aging is one of the major social and economic challenges of contemporary society. During aging the progressive decline in physiological functions has serious consequences for all organs including brain. The age-related incidence of neurodegenerative diseases coincides with the sharp decline of the amount and functionality of adult neural stem cells. Recently, we identified a short list of brain age-regulated genes by means of next-generation sequencing. Among them znf367 codes for a transcription factor that represents a central node in gene co-regulation networks during aging, but whose function in the central nervous system (CNS), is completely unknown. As proof of concept, we analysed the role of znf367 during Xenopus laevis neurogenesis. By means of a gene loss of function approach limited to the CNS, we suggested that znf367 might act as a key controller of the neuroblast cell cycle, particularly in the progression of mitosis and spindle checkpoint. A candidate gene approach based on a weighted-gene co-expression network analysis, revealed fancd2 and ska3 as possible targets of znf367. The age-related decline of znf367 correlated well with its role during embryonic neurogenesis, opening new lines of investigation also in adult neurogenesis to improved maintenance and even repair of neuronal function

Adolescent students’ consumption of fruit, greens and vegetables

Introduction: The intake of fruits, vegetables and greens is in accordance with the recommendations in a minority of the population, especially in adolescents, as it has been shown in literature. The importance to increase this food consumption regards to the prevention of non-transmissible chronic diseases. Objective: was to estimate and describe the frequency of fruit/juice and vegetable intake, and assess the adequacy of this consumption based on the recommendations of the “Ten steps to healthy eating”, in adolescents in Curitiba, Brazil. Methods: The food intake frequency was categorized as adequate or inadequate. The relationship between the intake and the independent variables (socioeconomic) was verified by simple and multiple logistic regressions. Results: The participants were 341 adolescents, most female and aged between 10 - 12 years. The most frequent maternal educational level was High School, most of them working outside home. Monthly family incomes up to 3 minimum wages were most frequent. Most adolescents had inadequate intake of fruits/juices and greens/ vegetables, with higher inadequacy for the latter. Only 3.5% of them had adequate intake of both groups of food. Conclusions: The intake of fruit/juice was not associated with any of the analyzed variables. It was found association of inadequate intake of greens/vegetables only for the age range of 14-19 years, which remained after multiple regression

Connecting gut microbiome changes with fish health conditions in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) exposed to dispersed crude oil

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in crude oil can impair fish health following sublethal exposure. However, the dysbiosis of microbial communities within the fish host and influence it has on the toxic response of fish following exposure has been less characterized, particularly in marine species. To better understand the effect of dispersed crude oil (DCO) on juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) microbiota composition and potential targets of exposure within the gut, fish were exposed to 0.05 ppm DCO for 1, 3, 7, or 28 days and 16 S metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing on the gut and RNA sequencing on intestinal content were conducted. In addition to assessing species composition, richness, and diversity from microbial gut community analysis and transcriptomic profiling, the functional capacity of the microbiome was determined. Mycoplasma and Aliivibrio were the two most abundant genera after DCO exposure and Photobacterium the most abundant genus in controls, after 28 days. Metagenomic profiles were only significantly different between treatments after a 28-day exposure. The top identified pathways were involved in energy and the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, and cellular structure. Biological processes following fish transcriptomic profiling shared common pathways with microbial functional annotations such as energy, translation, amide biosynthetic process, and proteolysis. There were 58 differently expressed genes determined from metatranscriptomic profiling after 7 days of exposure. Predicted pathways that were altered included those involved in translation, signal transduction, and Wnt signaling. EIF2 signaling was consistently dysregulated following exposure to DCO, regardless of exposure duration, with impairments in IL-22 signaling and spermine and spermidine biosynthesis in fish after 28 days. Data were consistent with predictions of a potentially reduced immune response related to gastrointestinal disease. Herein, transcriptomic-level responses helped explain the relevance of differences in gut microbial communities in fish following DCO exposure.publishedVersio

Study of the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) bile content - An indicator of ocean health

Globicephala melas has been harvested in the Faroe Islands for centuries. Given the distances travelled by this species, tissue/body fluid samples represent unique matrices to be considered as an integration of environmental condition and pollution status of their prey. For the first time, bile samples were analysed for presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites and protein content. Concentrations of 2- and 3-ring PAH metabolites ranged from 11 to 25 μg mL−1 pyrene fluorescence equivalents. In total, 658 proteins were identified and 61,5 % were common amongst all individuals. Identified proteins were integrated into in silico software and determined that the top predicted disease and functions were neurological diseases, inflammation, and immunological disorders. The metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was predicted to be dysregulated, which can have consequences to both the protection against ROS produced during dives and contaminant exposures. The obtained data is valuable for understanding metabolism and physiology of G. melas.publishedVersio