Effects of Inhibiting CoQ10 Biosynthesis with 4-nitrobenzoate in Human Fibroblasts

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent lipophilic antioxidant in cell membranes and a carrier of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We previously characterized the effects of varying severities of CoQ10 deficiency on ROS production and mitochondrial bioenergetics in cells harboring genetic defects of CoQ10 biosynthesis. We observed a unimodal distribution of ROS production with CoQ10 deficiency: cells with <20% of CoQ10 and 50–70% of CoQ10 did not generate excess ROS while cells with 30–45% of CoQ10 showed increased ROS production and lipid peroxidation. Because our previous studies were limited to a small number of mutant cell lines with heterogeneous molecular defects, here, we treated 5 control and 2 mildly CoQ10 deficient fibroblasts with varying doses of 4-nitrobenzoate (4-NB), an analog of 4-hydroxybenzoate (4-HB) and inhibitor of 4-para-hydroxybenzoate:polyprenyl transferase (COQ2) to induce a range of CoQ10 deficiencies. Our results support the concept that the degree of CoQ10 deficiency in cells dictates the extent of ATP synthesis defects and ROS production and that 40–50% residual CoQ10 produces maximal oxidative stress and cell death

Insatisfação com a imagem corporal e relação com estado nutricional, adiposidade corporal e sintomas de anorexia e bulimia em adolescentes Body image dissatisfaction and its relationship with nutritional status, body fat, and anorexia and bulimia symptoms in adolescents

Objetivos: Identificar a prevalência de insatisfação com a imagem corporal e de sintomas de anorexia e bulimia em adolescentes do sexo feminino da cidade de Santa Maria (RS) e verificar a associação da insatisfação com a imagem corporal com estado nutricional, adiposidade corporal e sintomas de anorexia e bulimia. Método: Foram analisadas 258 adolescentes do sexo feminino (11 a 13 anos), estudantes de escolas públicas. Aplicou-se o Body Shape Questionnaire e o Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT-26). Foram calculados o índice de massa corporal e o percentual de gordura. Foram utilizados o teste qui-quadrado e a regressão logística. Resultados: A prevalência de insatisfação com a imagem corporal foi de 25,3% e a de sintomas de anorexia e bulimia foi de 27,6%. A insatisfação com a imagem corporal apresentou associação com o estado nutricional, sendo que as adolescentes com excesso de peso apresentaram maior insatisfação (razão de chances = 2,64; IC95%= 1,02-6,83). Conclusão: As prevalências de insatisfação corporal e sintomas de anorexia e bulimia foram elevadas. O estado nutricional parece ser o melhor preditor da insatisfação corporal.<br>Objectives: To identify the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction and anorexia and bulimia symptoms in adolescent girls from the city of Santa Maria, Brazil, and to determine the association of body image dissatisfaction with nutritional status, body fat, and anorexia and bulimia symptoms. Method: We investigated 258 adolescent girls (11 to 13 years) from public schools. The Body Shape Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were used. Body mass index and percent body fat were calculated. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used. Results: The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was 25.3% and the prevalence of anorexia and bulimia symptoms was 27.6%. Body image dissatisfaction was associated with nutritional status, with overweight girls presenting higher dissatisfaction (OR = 2.64; 95%CI 1.02-6.83). Conclusion: The prevalence rates of body image dissatisfaction and anorexia and bulimia symptoms were high. Nutritional status seems to be a better predictor of body image dissatisfaction

I can't quite put my finger on it: racism's touch

Black liberation thought is foundational for Black Critical Race Theory (BCRT) which in turn is crucial for unpicking the operation of white power in organizations. Such unpicking is urgent given the observation that in organizations racism melts into thin air even as it permeates their very walls. ‘I just can't quite put my finger on it’ engages with the struggle to identify racism's invisible touch. In the academy, postrace sensibilities present us with slippages where ‘race’ no longer matters, racism does not exist and BCRT is not theory whilst teaching on ‘race’ and racism is mainstreamed. Racism is transmitted through the flinching away from Black touch, whether as theory or body, a movement away which contains contempt/ disgust. This is the ordinariness of racism where BCRT is aligned with the Black body so as to alienate it from sociology as a discipline and erase its decolonizing impetus