The influence of psychoactive substance consumption in the family context on students' self-esteem

O objetivo desta investigação foi relacionar comparativamente o nível de autoestima de estudantes do 6° ano do ensino fundamental das escolas estaduais da comuna de Chiguayante, província do Concepción-Chile, com o consumo de substâncias psicoativas de seus familiares. Este estudo não experimental, correlational e de corte transversal foi realizado com uma amostra de 303 crianças. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se um instrumento que solicitava dados sociodemográficos e pelo Inventário de Autoconceito no Meio Escolar, de García (1995) Verificou-se que 89,1% dos estudantes apresentou uma autoestima global elevada. Tal resultado se repetiu quando foram comparados dois grupos de crianças: o grupo que informou o consumo (em qualquer um de seus modos) de substâncias psicoativas em sua família e o grupo das crianças que não relataram tal consumo. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre eles. Concluiu-se que o consumo moderado de qualquer substância psicoativa não influenciou os níveis de auto-estima dos estudantes deste nível de instrução.El objetivo de esta investigación es relacionar comparativamente el nivel de autoestima de los escolares de 6° año de educación básica de colegios públicos de la comuna de Chiguayante, provincia de Concepción-Chile, con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas de parte de sus familiares. Este estudio es no experimental, correlacional y transversal aplicado a una muestra de 303 niños. Se aplicó un instrumento conformado por antecedentes sociodemográficos y por el Inventario de Autoconcepto en el Medio Escolar de García (1995). A nivel general, se obtuvo que el 89,1% de los alumnos presentan una autoestima global alta, situación que se repitió al comparar el grupo de niños que informaron consumo (en cualquiera de sus formas) de sustancias psicoactivas en su familia, con el grupo de niños que no vivían tal situación. Sin haber mayores diferencias entre ambos grupos de niños, se pudo establecer que el consumo moderado de cualquier sustancia psicoactiva no influiría en la autoestima de los escolares de este nivel de educación.This study aimed to correlate students' self-esteem in the sixth year of basic education in Chiguayante state schools in Concepción-Chile with psychoactive substance consumption in the family. This non-experimental, correlational and cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 303 children. An instrument with sociodemographic data and Garcia's Self-Concept Inventory in School (1995) were used for data collection. In general, 89.1% of the students displayed high global self-esteem. This result was repeated when the group of children who reported on psychoactive substance consumption (no matter which mode) in the family was compared with the group of children that did not mention this situation. As we did not observe any significant diffferences between the groups, we concluded that moderate consumption of any psychoactive substance would not influence the self-esteem of students at this educational level

A influência do consumo de substâncias psicoactivas na autoestima dos estudantes no âmbito familiar

This study aimed to correlate students' self-esteem in the sixth year of basic education in Chiguayante state schools in Concepción-Chile with psychoactive substance consumption in the family. This non-experimental, correlational and cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 303 children. An instrument with sociodemographic data and Garcia's Self-Concept Inventory in School (1995) were used for data collection. In general, 89.1% of the students displayed high global self-esteem. This result was repeated when the group of children who reported on psychoactive substance consumption (no matter which mode) in the family was compared with the group of children that did not mention this situation. As we did not observe any significant diffferences between the groups, we concluded that moderate consumption of any psychoactive substance would not influence the self-esteem of students at this educational level.El objetivo de esta investigación es relacionar comparativamente el nivel de autoestima de los escolares de 6° año de educación básica de colegios públicos de la comuna de Chiguayante, provincia de Concepción-Chile, con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas de parte de sus familiares. Este estudio es no experimental, correlacional y transversal aplicado a una muestra de 303 niños. Se aplicó un instrumento conformado por antecedentes sociodemográficos y por el Inventario de Autoconcepto en el Medio Escolar de García (1995). A nivel general, se obtuvo que el 89,1% de los alumnos presentan una autoestima global alta, situación que se repitió al comparar el grupo de niños que informaron consumo (en cualquiera de sus formas) de sustancias psicoactivas en su familia, con el grupo de niños que no vivían tal situación. Sin haber mayores diferencias entre ambos grupos de niños, se pudo establecer que el consumo moderado de cualquier sustancia psicoactiva no influiría en la autoestima de los escolares de este nivel de educación.O objetivo desta investigação foi relacionar comparativamente o nível de autoestima de estudantes do 6° ano do ensino fundamental das escolas estaduais da comuna de Chiguayante, província do Concepción-Chile, com o consumo de substâncias psicoativas de seus familiares. Este estudo não experimental, correlational e de corte transversal foi realizado com uma amostra de 303 crianças. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se um instrumento que solicitava dados sociodemográficos e pelo Inventário de Autoconceito no Meio Escolar, de García (1995) Verificou-se que 89,1% dos estudantes apresentou uma autoestima global elevada. Tal resultado se repetiu quando foram comparados dois grupos de crianças: o grupo que informou o consumo (em qualquer um de seus modos) de substâncias psicoativas em sua família e o grupo das crianças que não relataram tal consumo. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre eles. Concluiu-se que o consumo moderado de qualquer substância psicoativa não influenciou os níveis de auto-estima dos estudantes deste nível de instrução

Effects of X-rays on Tuta absoluta for use in inherited sterility programmes

Tuta absoluta is a key pest of tomato crops originating from South America. The consequences of X-radiation on this species were studied under laboratory controlled conditions. The effect of radiation on adult emergence was evaluated exposing male and female pupae to increasing X-rays. Adult emergence decreased as doses of X-radiation increased, with the appearance of deformities such as malformed wings and bent legs at doses C350 Gy. Besides, males and females obtained from irradiated pupae were out crossed with untreated counterparts to explore the effects of X-radiation on inherited sterility. (a) Irradiated male 9 untreated female crosses. Both fecundity and fertility of the untreated females were reduced by radiation, and the effect was stronger as the doses increased. Neither the longevity of parental males and F1 adults nor the sex ratios of the F1 and F2 generations were affected by X-radiation (F1 and F2: first and second generation of descendants of irradiated adults). Inherited sterility effects weremanifested by a significant reduction in the F1 fecundity, F1 fertility, and the amount of larvae and pupae produced. Doses of 200?250 Gy could be used to induce inherited sterility in T. absoluta males. (b) Untreated male 9 irradiated female crosses. The minimum dose at which irradiated females were completely sterile was 200 Gy. The present study is the first study in T. absoluta that provides the starting point for implementing the inherited sterility in this species.Fil: Cagnotti, Cynthia Lorena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Viscarret, Mariana Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Riquelme, Maria B.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Botto, Eduardo Norberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Carabajal Paladino, Leonela Zusel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López, Silvia N.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; Argentin

Estudio de potenciales parasitoides (Hymenoptera) de Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a pest that affects a great variety of fruit crops. The objective of this work was to learn about the diversity of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) that might be associated with SWD in fruit crops located in northeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Species were identified as Euxestophaga argentinensis Gallardo, Ganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes), Leptopilina boulardi (Barbotin, Carton & Kelner-Pillault), Hexacola bonaerensis Reche (Cynipoidea, Figitidae), Trichopria anastrephae (Costa Lima) (Diaprioidea, Diapriidae) and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae). Leptopilina boulardi, E. argentinensis and T. anastrephae were reported for the first time in the Buenos Aires province.Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) es una plaga que afecta a una gran variedad de cultivos frutales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la diversidad de parasitoides (Hymenoptera) que podrían estar asociados con la SWD en cultivos frutales ubicados en el noreste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Las especies fueron identificadas como Euxestophaga argentinensis Gallardo, Ganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes), Leptopilina boulardi (Barbotin, Carton & Kelner-Pillault), Hexacola bonaerensis Reche (Cynipoidea, Figitidae), Trichopria anastrephae (Costa Lima) (Diaprioidea, Diapriidae) y Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae ( Rondani) (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae). Leptopilina boulardi, E. argentinensis y T. anastrephae fueron reportadas por primera vez en la provincia de Buenos Aires.Fil: Gallardo, Fabiana Edith. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Reche, Vanina Anadina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Margaría, Cecilia B.. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.agrarias y Forestales. Centro de Investigacion En Sanidad Vegetal.; ArgentinaFil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.agrarias y Forestales. Centro de Investigacion En Sanidad Vegetal.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ansa, María Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Dettler, Maria Antonela. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Barrientos, Gualterio Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Santadino, Marina Vilma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Emilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Riquelme Virgala, María Begoña. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; Argentin

The pest kill rate of thirteen natural enemies as aggregate evaluation criterion of their biological control potential of Tuta absoluta

Ecologists study how populations are regulated, while scientists studying biological pest control apply population regulation processes to reduce numbers of harmful organisms: an organism (a natural enemy) is used to reduce the population density of another organism (a pest). Finding an effective biological control agent among the tens to hundreds of natural enemies of a pest is a daunting task. Evaluation criteria help in a first selection to remove clearly ineffective or risky species from the list of candidates. Next, we propose to use an aggregate evaluation criterion, the pest kill rate, to compare the pest population reduction capacity of species not eliminated during the first selection. The pest kill rate is the average daily lifetime killing of the pest by the natural enemy under consideration. Pest kill rates of six species of predators and seven species of parasitoids of Tuta absoluta were calculated and compared. Several natural enemies had pest kill rates that were too low to be able to theoretically reduce the pest population below crop damaging densities. Other species showed a high pest reduction capacity and their potential for practical application can now be tested under commercial crop production conditions

AKT Signaling Mediates IGF-I Survival Actions on Otic Neural Progenitors

Background: Otic neurons and sensory cells derive from common progenitors whose transition into mature cells requires the coordination of cell survival, proliferation and differentiation programmes. Neurotrophic support and survival of post-mitotic otic neurons have been intensively studied, but the bases underlying the regulation of programmed cell death in immature proliferative otic neuroblasts remains poorly understood. The protein kinase AKT acts as a node, playing a critical role in controlling cell survival and cell cycle progression. AKT is activated by trophic factors, including insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), through the generation of the lipidic second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Here we have investigated the role of IGF-dependent activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway in maintenance of otic neuroblasts. Methodology/Principal Findings: By using a combination of organotypic cultures of chicken (Gallus gallus) otic vesicles and acoustic-vestibular ganglia, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we show that IGF-I-activation of AKT protects neural progenitors from programmed cell death. IGF-I maintains otic neuroblasts in an undifferentiated and proliferative state, which is characterised by the upregulation of the forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) transcription factor. By contrast, our results indicate that post-mitotic p27Kip-positive neurons become IGF-I independent as they extend their neuronal processes. Neurons gradually reduce their expression of the Igf1r, while they increase that of the neurotrophin receptor, TrkC. Conclusions/Significance: Proliferative otic neuroblasts are dependent on the activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway by IGF-I for survival during the otic neuronal progenitor phase of early inner ear development

Cultivation-Independent Methods Reveal Differences among Bacterial Gut Microbiota in Triatomine Vectors of Chagas Disease

Chagas disease is one of the most important endemic diseases of South and Central America. Its causative agent is the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by blood-feeding insects known as triatomine bugs. These vectors mainly belong to Rhodnius, Triatoma and Panstrongylus genera of Reduviidae. The bacterial communities in the guts of these vectors may have important effects on the biology of T. cruzi. For this reason, we analyzed the bacterial diversity hosted in the gut of different species of triatomines using cultivation-independent methods. Among Rhodnius sp., we observed similar bacterial communities from specimens obtained from insectaries or sylvatic conditions. Endosymbionts of the Arsenophonus genus were preferentially associated with insects of the Panstrongylus and Triatoma genera, whereas the bacterial genus Serratia and Candidatus Rohrkolberia were typical of Rhodnius and Dipetalogaster, respectively. The diversity of the microbiota tended to be the largest in the Triatoma genus, with species of both Arsenophonus and Serratia being detected in T. infestans

The pest kill rate of thirteen natural enemies as aggregate evaluation criterion of their biological control potential of Tuta absoluta

Ecologists study how populations are regulated, while scientists studying biological pest control apply population regulation processes to reduce numbers of harmful organisms: an organism (a natural enemy) is used to reduce the population density of another organism (a pest). Finding an effective biological control agent among the tens to hundreds of natural enemies of a pest is a daunting task. Evaluation criteria help in a first selection to remove clearly ineffective or risky species from the list of candidates. Next, we propose to use an aggregate evaluation criterion, the pest kill rate, to compare the pest population reduction capacity of species not eliminated during the first selection. The pest kill rate is the average daily lifetime killing of the pest by the natural enemy under consideration. Pest kill rates of six species of predators and seven species of parasitoids of Tuta absoluta were calculated and compared. Several natural enemies had pest kill rates that were too low to be able to theoretically reduce the pest population below crop damaging densities. Other species showed a high pest reduction capacity and their potential for practical application can now be tested under commercial crop production conditions.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Genome-wide association study identifies Sjögren’s risk loci with functional implications in immune and glandular cells

Sjögren’s disease is a complex autoimmune disease with twelve established susceptibility loci. This genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifies ten novel genome-wide significant (GWS) regions in Sjögren’s cases of European ancestry: CD247, NAB1, PTTG1-MIR146A, PRDM1-ATG5, TNFAIP3, XKR6, MAPT-CRHR1, RPTOR-CHMP6-BAIAP6, TYK2, SYNGR1. Polygenic risk scores yield predictability (AUROC = 0.71) and relative risk of 12.08. Interrogation of bioinformatics databases refine the associations, define local regulatory networks of GWS SNPs from the 95% credible set, and expand the implicated gene list to >40. Many GWS SNPs are eQTLs for genes within topologically associated domains in immune cells and/or eQTLs in the main target tissue, salivary glands.Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH): R01AR073855 (C.J.L.), R01AR065953 (C.J.L.), R01AR074310 (A.D.F.), P50AR060804 (K.L.S.), R01AR050782 (K.L.S), R01DE018209 (K.L.S.), R33AR076803 (I.A.), R21AR079089 (I.A.); NIDCR Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic and Salivary Disorders Unit were supported by NIDCR Division of Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Health funds - Z01-DE000704 (B.W.); Birmingham NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (S.J.B.); Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC 2155 – Projektnummer 390874280 (T.W.); Research Council of Norway (Oslo, Norway) – Grant 240421 (TR.R.), 316120 (M.W-H.); Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest) – 911807, 912043 (R.O.); Swedish Research Council for Medicine and Health (L.R., G.N., M.W-H.); Swedish Rheumatism Association (L.R., G.N., M.W-H.); King Gustav V’s 80-year Foundation (G.N.); Swedish Society of Medicine (L.R., G.N., M.W-H.); Swedish Cancer Society (E.B.); Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (K.L.S.); Phileona Foundation (K.L.S.). The Stockholm County Council (M.W-H.); The Swedish Twin Registry is managed through the Swedish Research Council - Grant 2017-000641. The French ASSESS (Atteinte Systémique et Evolution des patients atteints de Syndrome de Sjögren primitive) was sponsored by Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (Ministry of Health, PHRC 2006 P060228) and the French society of Rheumatology (X.M.).publishedVersio

Molecular Characterization of Monocyte Subsets Reveals Specific and Distinctive Molecular Signatures Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objectives: This study, developed within the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking project PRECISESADS framework, aimed at functionally characterize the monocyte subsets in RA patients, and analyze their involvement in the increased CV risk associated with RA.Methods: The frequencies of monocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of 140 RA patients and 145 healthy donors (HDs) included in the PRECISESADS study were determined by flow cytometry. A second cohort of 50 RA patients and 30 HDs was included, of which CD14+ and CD16+ monocyte subpopulations were isolated using immuno-magnetic selection. Their transcriptomic profiles (mRNA and microRNA), proinflammatory patterns and activated pathways were evaluated and related to clinical features and CV risk. Mechanistic in vitro analyses were further performed.Results: CD14++CD16+ intermediate monocytes were extended in both cohorts of RA patients. Their increased frequency was associated with the positivity for autoantibodies, disease duration, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and the presence of atheroma plaques, as well as with the CV risk score. CD14+ and CD16+ monocyte subsets showed distinctive and specific mRNA and microRNA profiles, along with specific intracellular signaling activation, indicating different functionalities. Moreover, that specific molecular profiles were interrelated and associated to atherosclerosis development and increased CV risk in RA patients. In vitro, RA serum promoted differentiation of CD14+CD16− to CD14++CD16+ monocytes. Co-culture with RA-isolated monocyte subsets induced differential activation of endothelial cells.Conclusions: Our overall data suggest that the generation of inflammatory monocytes is associated to the autoimmune/inflammatory response that mediates RA. These monocyte subsets, -which display specific and distinctive molecular signatures- might promote endothelial dysfunction and in turn, the progression of atherosclerosis through a finely regulated process driving CVD development in RA