The Frontal-subcortical syndrome

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O impacto específico de toxinas urêmicas em domínios cognitivos : uma revisão

One of the mechanisms proposed for chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related cognitive impairment is the accumulation of uremic toxins due to the deterioration of the renal clearance function. Cognition can be categorized into five major domains according to its information processing functions: memory, attention, language, visual-spatial, and executive. We performed a review using the terms ‘uric acid’, ‘indoxyl sulfate’, ‘p-cresyl sulfate’, ‘homocysteine’, ‘interleukins’ and ‘parathyroid hormone’. These are the compounds that were found to be strongly associated with cognitive impairment in CKD in the literature. The 26 selected articles point towards an association between higher levels of uric acid, homocysteine, and interleukin 6 with lower cognitive performance in executive, attentional, and memory domains. We also reviewed the hemodialysis effects on cognition. Hemodialysis seems to contribute to an amelioration of CKD-related encephalopathic dysfunction, although this improvement occurs more in some cognitive domains than in others.Um dos mecanismos propostos para explicar o comprometimento cognitivo relacionado à doença renal crônica (DRC) é o acúmulo de toxinas urêmicas devido à deterioração da função de depuração renal. A cognição pode ser categorizada em cinco domínios principais de acordo com suas funções de processamento de informações: memória, atenção, linguagem, visual-espacial e executiva. Realizamos uma revisão usando os termos "ácido úrico", "indoxil sulfato", "p-cresil sulfato", "homocisteína", "interleucinas" e "paratormônio". Estes são os compostos que se mostraram fortemente associados ao comprometimento cognitivo na DRC na literatura. Os 26 artigos selecionados apontam para uma associação entre níveis mais elevados de ácido úrico, homocisteína e interleucina-6 com menor desempenho cognitivo nos domínios executivo, atenção e de memória. Também revisamos os efeitos da hemodiálise na cognição. A hemodiálise parece contribuir para uma melhoria da disfunção encefalopática relacionada à DRC, embora essa melhora ocorra mais em alguns domínios cognitivos do que em outros

Barriers to volunteering in the field of intellectual disability: a cluster analysis [corrected]

This paper aims to characterise the profles of individuals likely to feel discouraged to volunteer in the feld of intellectual disability. The socio-emotional contours of intellectual disability hinder the involvement of volunteers in this feld. There is evidence of the particular barriers to volunteering in activities involving intellectually disabled people, but there is a dearth of research on the characteristics of individuals that mention such barriers. A survey applied to 197 individuals allowed, through latent classes, to identify three clusters of individuals—assuming volunteering as having a negative impact; unawareness of the reality of intellectual disability; and no barriers to volunteering; and three groups of barriers to volunteering in the feld of intellectual disability—characteristics of intellectually disabled people; awareness; introversion. Based on the characteristics of the clusters identifed, the study addresses possible strategies to overcome the constraints, aiming at involving volunteers in activities targeting individuals with intellectual impairments and to better target the recruitment of volunteering actions in this feld. The continuous understanding of barriers to donate time can allow institutions to minimise constraints and overcome hurdles by emphasising the value of experiences that meet the motivations of volunteers.Beatriz Casais acknowledges this work is fnanced by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project «UIDB/04647/2020» of CICS.NOVA – Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences of Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Marisa R. Ferreira and Ana Borges gratefully acknowledges fnancial support from FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal), national funding through project UIDB/04728/2020

Os processos de enquadramento em tempos de excecionalidade: da interrupção do frame dominante ao reequilíbrio da ordem anterior

Desde o final de 2019, o mundo tem sido assolado pela pandemia do Coronavírus. Em Portugal, a janela de esperança abriu-se em dezembro de 2020, com a chegada das primeiras vacinas contra a COVID-19, que se espera representarem o princípio do fim. A falta de conhecimento gera incerteza e, consequentemente, amplifica a necessidade de orientação nos cidadãos, fazendo aumentar a probabilidade de incorporarem a preocupação dos media nas suas próprias preocupações. No contexto pandémico em que vivemos, considero relevante perceber como é que os media hierarquizam e apresentam a informação ao público, em particular que aspetos da realidade se destacam no texto comunicativo. Este documento inicia-se com um relatório de um estágio curricular desenvolvido na RTP de Coimbra, no qual são descritas as tarefas realizadas, as técnicas aplicadas, a aprendizagem adquirida e o funcionamento do meio audiovisual, num contexto de informação regional e de proximidade. Seguidamente, é apresentado um estudo de caso sobre os frames atribuídos pela RTP à temática da vacinação contra a COVID-19, nas primeiras semanas do processo em Portugal, que confirma um fenómeno de “reframing”. Os frames dominantes no panorama mediático são, habitualmente, temas de âmbito social e político-partidário, mas o início da vacinação forçou um novo enquadramento, a partir de uma nova perspetiva de saúde pública. O esperado era que, progressivamente, os enquadramentos anteriores voltassem a ser dominantes e, de facto, observámos um “esforço” no regresso à normalidade de enquadramentos pré-vacinação e até mesmo antes do início da pandemia de COVID-19

Psychological correlates of exercise behavior among university students : a study at a major academic transition

Considerable research evidence for the psychological benefits of regular exercise has been documented in the literature. Affective changes in the mood and emotional states of individuals have also been reported and related with healthy exercise behaviors. Looking for a closer examination of the processes implicated in the behavioral intentions and involvement in regular exercise, a major goal of this investigation was to study the psychological correlates of exercise behavior among university students in the transition from high school to university studies

Global Epidemiology of Dementia: Alzheimer’s and Vascular Types

The prevalence of dementia varies substantially worldwide. This is partially attributed to the lack of methodological uniformity among studies, including diagnostic criteria and different mean population ages. However, even after considering these potential sources of bias, differences in age-adjusted dementia prevalence still exist among regions of the world. In Latin America, the prevalence of dementia is higher than expected for its level of population aging.This phenomenon occurs due to the combination of low average educational attainment and high vascular risk profile. Among developed countries, Japan seems to have the lowest prevalence of dementia. Studies that evaluated the immigration effect of the Japanese and blacks to USA evidenced that acculturation increases the relative proportion ofADcases compared toVaD. In theMiddle East andAfrica, the number of dementia caseswill be expressive by 2040. In general, loweducational background and other socioeconomic factors have been associated with high risk of obesity, sedentarism, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, all of which also raise the risk of VaD and AD. Regulating these factors is critical to generate the commitment to make dementia a public health priority

Haemodialysis improves uraemic patients' cognition : a pilot study

Uraemia is a state of elevated plasma urea well related to a low cognitive profile. Although renal transplantation has been proved to improve cognition in these patients, little is known about how haemodialysis act on this scenario. Here we aimed to conduct a pilot study to fathom the presence and magnitude of a possible benefit of haemodialysis in cognition. Our main instrument was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, a tool designed to allow for a sensitive score for cognitive impairment. Although preliminary, our data were significant (p=0.012) to suggest that haemodialysis might be an important tool for cognitive improvement of end-stage kidney disease patients, tough not sufficient for a full cognitive recovery

Prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in rural and urban populations from Northern Portugal

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite worldwide recognition of the burden of dementia, no epidemiological data is yet available in Portugal. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence and describe the pattern of cognitive impairment with dementia or no dementia (CIND) in rural and urban populations from Northern Portugal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two random samples of residents aged 55 to 79 years in rural and urban communities were drawn from the health centres registries to be screened for cognitive impairment. The screening criteria for dementia were an abnormal Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score or a Blessed Dementia Scale score. After excluding those who tested positive for dementia, cut-off points for CIND were set at 1 standard deviation below the mean of the MMSE according to educational level. All those who screened positive either for dementia or CIND were examined by a neurologist for establishing a definitive diagnosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of cognitive impairment was higher in rural than in urban populations, 16.8% (95% CI: 14.3-19.8%) vs. 12.0% (95%CI: 9.3-15.4%), with a rural/urban prevalence ratio (PR) of 2.16 (95% CI: 1.04-4.50) in the eldest and 2.19 (95% CI: 1.01-4.76) in persons with vascular risk factors. The prevalence of dementia was 2.7% (95% CI: 1.9-3.8%) with a rural/urban PR = 2.1 and the prevalence of CIND was 12.3% (95% CI: 10.4-14.4%) and PR = 1.3. The prevalence of dementia increases exponentially with age and in those with cerebrovascular disease or other comorbid conditions while the prevalence of CIND, besides these factors, is also higher in persons with low levels of education or vascular risk factors. Alzheimer's and vascular disease were equally likely aetiologies of dementia (38.7%), the later more common in men PR(F:M = 0.3) as opposed to the former PR(F:M = 2.0). Vascular CIND, associated either with cerebrovascular disease or vascular risk factors was more frequent (39.7%) then depression (18.4%) or any other aetiology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of cognitive impairment is higher in rural compared with urban populations. This is shown in the synergy between age and rurality, with the rural/urban prevalence ratio increasing with age. In this relatively young population from Northern Portugal, cerebrovascular disease as well as vascular risk factors account for 48% of overall cognitive impairment.</p

Mechanisms of Brain Aging Regulation by Insulin: Implications for Neurodegeneration in Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Insulin and IGF seem to be important players in modulating brain aging. Neurons share more similarities with islet cells than any other human cell type. Insulin and insulin receptors are diffusely found in the brain, especially so in the hippocampus. Caloric restriction decreases insulin resistance, and it is the only proven mechanism to expand lifespan. Conversely, insulin resistance increases with age, obesity, and sedentarism, all of which have been shown to be risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hyperphagia and obesity potentiate the production of oxidative reactive species (ROS), and chronic hyperglycemia accelerates the formation of advanced glucose end products (AGEs) in (pre)diabetes—both mechanisms favoring a neurodegenerative milieu. Prolonged high cerebral insulin concentrations cause microvascular endothelium proliferation, chronic hypoperfusion, and energy deficit, triggering β-amyloid oligomerization and tau hyperphosphorylation. Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) seems to be the main mechanism in clearing β-amyloid from the brain. Hyperinsulinemic states may deviate IDE utilization towards insulin processing, decreasing β-amyloid degradation

Estabelecimento de colônias de Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) baseada em características morfológicas externas.

O gênero Anastrepha é um amplo táxon que apresenta distribuição tropical e subtropical, onde as espécies inseridas, nesse gênero, causam grandes prejuízos à fruticultura nacional. Dentre essas, as de maior importância econômica são A. obliqua Macquart e A. fraterculus (Wiedemann). A colonização de A. obliqua em laboratório pode servir a vários propósitos que vão desde pesquisa básica até extensos programas de controle, como por exemplo: a técnica do inseto estéril (TIE)