Ajuste al retiro laboral en función del tipo de retiro y su voluntariedad desde una perspectiva de género [Retirement fit as a function of the retirement type and voluntariness: a gender view]

En el presente trabajo examinamos el ajuste al retiro laboral, examinando la satisfacción con la jubilación y bienestar psicológico en una muestra de 260 prejubilados y jubilados. Se consideraron tres factores: el tipo de retiro (prejubilación o jubilación), la percepción de la medida en que la salida del rol laboral fue voluntaria (voluntariedad) y el género. Los resultados muestran que las personas que se jubilaron y que lo hicieron voluntariamente perciben mayores niveles de satisfacción con la jubilación y bienestar psicológico en comparación con los que se prejubilaron y aquellos que lo hicieron obligatoriamente, respectivamente. Además se puso de manifiesto la interacción entre las variables consideradas en sus efectos sobre la satisfacción y el bienestar. En esta línea, entre los obligatoriamente prejubilados, las mujeres experimentan menor nivel de satisfacción con la jubilación que los hombres. Sin embargo, entre los obligatoriamente jubilados, son los hombres los que experimentan menor nivel de satisfacción con la jubilación. En relación a dichos resultados, el presente trabajo subraya la importancia de estudiar e intervenir sobre la mejora del ajuste en la experiencia del retiro laboral atendiendo tanto a las características de género como a las del proceso de transición (jubilación-prejubilación, voluntariedad-obligatoriedad). ABSTRACT: The present study analyses the adjustment to retirement in terms of satisfaction and psychological well-being in a sample of 270 early and on-time retirees. Three factors were taken into consideration -type of retirement (early vs on-time retirement), perception of the extent to which retirement was retiro laboral, (voluntariness) and gender. The results show that participants who retired on-time and whose decision was taken voluntarily perceive higher levels of satisfaction with retirement and psychological well-being when compared to early retirees and to those who perceive retirement as obligatory respectively. Results also show an interaction between the three factors in the impact of retirement on satisfaction and wellbeing. Among obligatory early retired, women experience lower levels of satisfaction with retirement compared to men. However, among the obligatory on-time retirees, men perceive lower levels of satisfaction with retirement than women. Based on these findings, this study emphasizes the importance of examining and intervening in retirement fit, taking into consideration the characteristics of both gender and transition process -i.e., early vs on-time retirement and voluntary vs obligatory retirement

Enhanced anxiety, depressive-like behaviour and impaired recognition memory in mice with reduced expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1)

Three isoforms of a vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1-3) have been identified. Of these, VGLUT1 is the major isoform of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus where it is selectively located on synaptic vesicles of excitatory glutamatergic terminals. Variations in VGLUT1 expression levels have a major impact on the efficacy of glutamate synaptic transmission. Given evidence linking alterations in glutamate neurotransmission to various neuropsychiatric disorders, we investigated the possible influence of a down-regulation of VGLUT1 transporter on anxiety, depressive-like behaviour and learning. The behavioural phenotype of VGLUT1 heterozygous mice (C57BL/6) was compared to WT littermates. Moreover, VGLUT1-3 expression, hippocampal excitatory terminal ultrastructure and neurochemical phenotype were analysed. VGLUT1 heterozygous mice displayed normal spontaneous locomotor activity, increased anxiety in the light-dark exploration test and depressive-like behaviour in the forced swimming test: no differences were shown in the elevated plus-maze model of anxiety. In the novel object recognition test, VGLUT1+/- mice showed normal short-term but impaired long-term memory. Spatial memory in the Morris water maze was unaffected. Western blot analysis confirmed that VGLUT1 heterozygotes expressed half the amount of transporter compared to WT. In addition, a reduction of the reserve pool of synaptic vesicles of hippocampal excitatory terminals and a 35-45 % reduction of GABA in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus were observed in the mutant mice. These observations suggest that a VGLUT1-mediated presynaptic alteration of the glutamatergic synapses, in specific brain regions, leads to a behavioural phenotype resembling certain aspects of psychiatric and cognitive disorders

Chronic stress and impaired glutamate function elicit a depressive-like phenotype and common changes in gene expression in the mouse frontal cortex

Major depression might originate from both environmental and genetic risk factors. The environmental chronic mild stress (CMS) model mimics some environmental factors contributing to human depression and induces anhedonia and helplessness. Mice heterozygous for the synaptic vesicle protein (SVP) vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) have been proposed as a genetic model of deficient glutamate function linked to depressive-like behaviour. Here, we aimed to identify, in these two experimental models, gene expression changes in the frontal cortex, common to stress and impaired glutamate function. Both VGLUT1+/- and CMS mice showed helpless and anhedonic-like behavior. Microarray studies in VGLUT1+/- mice revealed regulation of genes involved in apoptosis, neurogenesis, synaptic transmission, protein metabolic process or learning and memory. In addition, RT-PCR studies confirmed gene expression changes in several glutamate, GABA, dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter receptors. On the other hand, CMS affected the regulation of 147 transcripts, some of them involved in response to stress and oxidoreductase activity. Interestingly, 52 genes were similarly regulated in both models. Specifically, a dowregulation in genes that promote cell proliferation (Anapc7), cell growth (CsnK1g1), cell survival (Hdac3), inhibition of apoptosis (Dido1) was observed. Genes linked to cytoskeleton (Hspg2, Invs), psychiatric disorders (Grin1, MapK12) or an antioxidant enzyme (Gpx2) were also downregulated. Moreover, genes that inhibit the MAPK pathways (Dusp14), stimulate oxidative metabolism (Eif4a2) and enhance glutamate transmission (Rab8b) were upregulated. We suggest that these genes could form part of the altered “molecular context” underlying depressive-like behaviour in animal models. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed

Increased vulnerability to depressive-like behaviour of mice with decreased expression of VGLUT1

Background: Many studies have linked depression to an increase in the excitatory-inhibitory ratio in the forebrain. Presynaptic alterations in a shared pathway of the glutamate/GABA cycle may account for this imbalance. Recent evidence suggests that decreased vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) levels in the forebrain affects the glutamate/GABA cycle and induces helpless behaviour. Here we studied decreased VGLUT1 as a potencial factor enhancing a depressive-like phenotype in an animal model. Methods: Glutamate and GABA synthesis as well as oxidative metabolism were studied in heterozygous mice for the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1+/-) and WT. Subsequently, the regulation of neurotransmitter levels, proteins involved in the glutamate/GABA cycle and behaviour by both genotype and chronic mild stress (CMS) was studied. Finally, the effect of chronic imipramine on VGLUT1 control and CMS mice was also studied. Results: VGLUT1+/- mice showed increased neuronal synthesis of glutamate, decreased cortical and hippocampal GABA, VGLUT1 and EAAT1, as well as helplessness and anhedonia. CMS induced an increase of glutamate and a decrease of GABA, VGAT and GAD65 in both areas and led to upregulation EAAT1 in the hippocampus. Moreover, CMS induced anhedonia, helplessness, anxiety and impaired recognition memory. VGLUT1+/- CMS mice showed a combined phenotype (genotype plus stress) and specific alterations, such as an upregulation of VGLUT2 and hyperlocomotion. Moreover, an increased vulnerability to anhedonia and helplessness reversible by chronic imipramine was shown. Conclusions: These studies highlight a crucial role for decreased VGLUT1 in the forebrain as a biological mediator of increased vulnerability to chronic mild stress

Regulation of markers of synaptic function in mouse models of depression: chronic mild stress and decreased expression of VGLUT1

Depression has been linked to failure in synaptic plasticity originating from environmental and/or genetic risk factors. The chronic mild stress (CMS) model regulates the expression of synaptic markers of neurotransmitter function and associated depressive-like behaviour. Moreover, mice heterozygous for the synaptic vesicle protein (SVP) vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), have been proposed as a genetic model of deficient glutamate function linked to depressive-like behaviour. Here, we aimed to identify, in these two experimental models, mechanisms of failure in synaptic plasticity, common to stress and impaired glutamate function. First, we show that CMS induced a transient decrease of different plasticity markers (VGLUT1, synapsin 1, sinaptophysin, rab3A and activity regulated cytoskeletal protein Arc) but a long-lasting decrease of the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as well as depressive-like behaviour. The immediate early gene (IEG) Arc was also downregulated in VGLUT1+/- heterozygous mice. In contrast, an opposite regulation of synapsin 1 was observed. Finally, both models showed a marked increase of cortical Arc response to novelty. Increased Arc response to novelty could be suggested as a molecular mechanism underlying failure to adapt to environmental changes, common to chronic stress and altered glutamate function. Further studies should investigate whether these changes are associated to depressive-like behaviour both in animal models and in depressed patients

Validation of the questionnaire on beliefs about medication with type 2 diabetic patients

O presente trabalho teve como objectivo validar o Questionário Crenças sobre a Medicação, que avalia Crenças Gerais e Crenças Específicas, estudando suas propriedades psicométricas em uma amostra de 387 pacientes diabéticos tipo 2. O estudo de validade para as Crenças Gerais revelou uma solução de um factor, com um alfa de 0,76, e para as Crenças Específicas, dois factores – Necessidades e Preocupações –, com um alfa de 0,77 e 0,69 respectivamente. Quanto à validade de constructo, verificou-se uma relação entre as Crenças Gerais e a subescala Necessidades das Crenças Específicas com Adesão à Medicação, avaliada pela Escala de Avaliação de Aderência Médica. O instrumento apresenta boas qualidades psicométricas para ser utilizado em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2.The present paper focused on the validation of the Questionnaire on Beliefs about Medication, which assesses both General Beliefs and Specific Beliefs. The psychometric properties of the instrument were analyzed on a sample of 387 type 2 diabetic patients. The validity study for General Beliefs found a unifactorial solution, with an alpha of .76, and for Specific Beliefs, a two-factor solution – Necessities and Concern –, with an alpha of .77 and .69, respectively. In terms of construct validity, a relationship between General Beliefs, subscale Necessities from Specific Beliefs, and adherence to medication, as evaluated by Medical Adherence Rating Scale, was found. The instrument presents good psychometric qualities to be used in type 2 diabetic patients.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT

Anti-tumour necrosis factor discontinuation in inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission: study protocol of a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who achieve remission with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs may have treatment withdrawn due to safety concerns and cost considerations, but there is a lack of prospective, controlled data investigating this strategy. The primary study aim is to compare the rates of clinical remission at 1?year in patients who discontinue anti-TNF treatment versus those who continue treatment. Methods: This is an ongoing, prospective, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis who have achieved clinical remission for ?6?months with an anti-TNF treatment and an immunosuppressant. Patients are being randomized 1:1 to discontinue anti-TNF therapy or continue therapy. Randomization stratifies patients by the type of inflammatory bowel disease and drug (infliximab versus adalimumab) at study inclusion. The primary endpoint of the study is sustained clinical remission at 1?year. Other endpoints include endoscopic and radiological activity, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, work productivity), safety and predictive factors for relapse. The required sample size is 194 patients. In addition to the main analysis (discontinuation versus continuation), subanalyses will include stratification by type of inflammatory bowel disease, phenotype and previous treatment. Biological samples will be obtained to identify factors predictive of relapse after treatment withdrawal. Results: Enrolment began in 2016, and the study is expected to end in 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute prospective, controlled data on outcomes and predictors of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after withdrawal of anti-TNF agents following achievement of clinical remission. Clinical trial reference number: EudraCT 2015-001410-1