Game location effect on pre-competition cortisol concentration and anxiety state : a case study in a futsal team

The main aim of this study was to investigate the game location effect on pre-competition salivary cortisol and state anxiety in professional futsal players. Fourteen male players from a U-20 futsal team were evaluated during four competitive matches played away (n=2) and home (n=2) venues. Saliva samples were collected in order to analyse the salivary cortisol concentrations (sal-C) by the ELISA assay and state anxiety was evaluated using the CSAI-2R questionnaire. All the data collection took place before the pre-match warm-up. Medium and clear increase on sal-C (ES= 0.67; CL= 0.20; 1.14) was observed from home to away venues. Trivial and unclear differences between away and home venues were observed in cognitive anxiety (ES= 0.12; CL= -0.34; 0.57); somatic anxiety (ES= 0.06; CL= -0.40; 0.51) and self-confidence (ES= 0.06; CL= -0.40; 0.51). In conclusion, the data suggested that game location affects hormonal responses; increases in sal-C suggest that playing away represents a more challenging situation in futsal athletes compared to their home venue.El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el efecto del lugar de juego sobre el cortisol y el estado de ansiedad precompetitivo en los atletas profesionales de futsal. Catorce atletas de un equipo de futsal masculino Sub-20 fueron evaluados durante cuatro juegos competitivos jugados afuera (n = 2) y en adentro (n = 2). Las muestras de saliva se recolectaron para el análisis de concentración de cortisol (sal-C) mediante análisis ELISA y el estado de ansiedad se evaluó mediante el cuestionario CSAI-2R. Todos los datos fueron recopilados antes de que el juego se calentara. Se observó un aumento claro y medio de la sal-C (ES= 0,67; CL = 0,20; 1,14) afuera en comparación con adentro. Se observaron diferencias triviales y poco claras entre jugar afora y adentro por la ansiedad cognitiva (ES= 0,12, CL= -0,34; 0,57); somático (ES= 0,06; CL= -0,40; 0,51) y confianza en sí mismo (ES= 0,06; CL= -0,40; 0,51). En conclusión, los datos sugieren que el lugar de juego afecta la respuesta hormonal; un aumento en sal-C sugiere que los juegos fuera representan uno situación más desafiante para los atletas de futsal en comparación con los juegos adentro.O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar o efeito do local de jogo no cortisol e estado de ansiedade pré-competitiva em atletas profissionais de futsal. Quatorze atletas de uma equipe Sub-20 de futsal masculino foram avaliados durante quatro jogos competitivos jogados fora (n=2) e dentro de casa (n=2). Amostras de saliva foram coletadas para análise da concentração de cortisol (sal-C) pela análise de ELISA e o estado de ansiedade foi avaliada pelo questionário CSAI-2R. Todos os dados foram coletados antes do aquecimento do jogo. Um aumento médio e claro na sal-C (ES= 0,67; CL= 0,20; 1,14) foi observado em casa comparado fora de casa. Diferença trivial e pouco clara entre fora e dentro de casa foram observados pela ansiedade cognitiva (ES= 0,12, CL= -0,34; 0,57); somática (ES= 0,06; CL= -0,40; 0,51) e autoconfiança (ES= 0,06; CL= -0,40; 0,51). Em conclusão, os dados sugerem que o local de jogo afeta a resposta hormonal; um aumento no sal-C sugere-te que jogos fora de casa representam uma situação mais desafiadora nos atletas de futsal comparado aos jogos em casa

Early detection of doxorubicin myocardial injury by ultrasonic tissue characterization in an experimental animal model

In the clinical setting, the early detection of myocardial injury induced by doxorubicin (DXR) is still considered a challenge. To assess whether ultrasonic tissue characterization (UTC) can identify early DXR-related myocardial lesions and their correlation with collagen myocardial percentages, we studied 60 rats at basal status and prospectively after 2mg/Kg/week DXR endovenous infusion. Echocardiographic examinations were conducted at baseline and at 8,10,12,14 and 16 mg/Kg DXR cumulative dose. The left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), shortening fraction (SF), and the UTC indices: corrected coefficient of integrated backscatter (IBS) (tissue IBS intensity/phantom IBS intensity) (CC-IBS) and the cyclic variation magnitude of this intensity curve (MCV) were measured. The variation of each parameter of study through DXR dose was expressed by the average and standard error at specific DXR dosages and those at baseline. The collagen percent (%) was calculated in six control group animals and 24 DXR group animals. CC-IBS increased (1.29 +/- 0.27 x 1.1 +/- 0.26-basal; p=0.005) and MCV decreased (9.1 +/- 2.8 x 11.02 +/- 2.6-basal; p=0.006) from 8 mg/Kg to 16mg/Kg DXR. LVEF presented only a slight but significant decrease (80.4 +/- 6.9% x 85.3 +/- 6.9%-basal, p=0.005) from 8 mg/Kg to 16 mg/Kg DXR. CC-IBS was 72.2% sensitive and 83.3% specific to detect collagen deposition of 4.24%(AUC=0.76). LVEF was not accurate to detect initial collagen deposition (AUC=0.54). In conclusion: UTC was able to early identify the DXR myocardial lesion when compared to LVEF, showing good accuracy to detect the initial collagen deposition in this experimental animal model

Biodiversidade, população e economia: uma região de mata atlântica [Biodiversity, Population, and Economy: a region of atlantic forest]

Minas Gerais; Rio Doce; mata atlântica; atlantic forest; sustainable development; conservation; regional development; environment

Changes in infant and neonatal mortality and associated factors in eight cohorts from three Brazilian cities

Stillbirth (SBR), perinatal (PMR), neonatal (NMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR) are declining in Brazil and the factors associated with these falls are still being investigated. The objective of the present study was to assess changes in SBR, PMR, NMR and IMR over time and to determine the factors associated with changes in NMR and IMR in eight Brazilian cohorts. All cohorts are population-based (Ribeirão Preto in 1978/79, 1994 and 2010; Pelotas in 1982, 1993 and 2004; and São Luís in 1997/98 and 2010). Were included data on 41440 children. All indicators were decreased, except in the city of Pelotas, from 1993 to 2004, and except SBR in São Luís. Sociodemographic variables seem to be able to explain reductions of NMR and IMR in Ribeirão Preto, from 1978/79 to 1994, and in São Luís. In Ribeirão Preto, from 1994 to 2010 declines in NMR and IMR seem to be explained by reductions in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Newborn’s gestational age had diminished in all cohorts, preventing even greater reductions of NMR and IMR. Improved sociodemographic variables and reduction of IUGR, seem to be able to explain part of the decrease observed. NMR and IMR could have been reduced even more, were it not for the worsening in gestational age distribution

17-AAG-induced activation of the autophagic pathway in Leishmania is associated with parasite death

The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is thought to be an excellent drug target against parasitic diseases. The leishmanicidal effect of an Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), was previously demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Parasite death was shown to occur in association with severe ultrastructural alterations in Leishmania, suggestive of autophagic activation. We hypothesized that 17-AAG treatment results in the abnormal activation of the autophagic pathway, leading to parasite death. To elucidate this process, experiments were performed using transgenic parasites with GFP-ATG8-labelled autophagosomes. Mutant parasites treated with 17-AAG exhibited autophagosomes that did not entrap cargo, such as glycosomes, or fuse with lysosomes. ATG5-knockout (Δatg5) parasites, which are incapable of forming autophagosomes, demonstrated lower sensitivity to 17-AAG-induced cell death when compared to wild-type (WT) Leishmania, further supporting the role of autophagy in 17-AAG-induced cell death. In addition, Hsp90 inhibition resulted in greater accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins in both WT- and Δatg5-treated parasites compared to controls, in the absence of proteasome overload. In conjunction with previously described ultrastructural alterations, herein we present evidence that treatment with 17-AAG causes abnormal activation of the autophagic pathway, resulting in the formation of immature autophagosomes and, consequently, incidental parasite death

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Sex-Biased Expression of MicroRNAs in Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosomiasis is an important neglected tropical disease caused by digenean helminth parasites of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomes are unusual in that they are dioecious and the adult worms live in the blood system. MicroRNAs play crucial roles during gene regulation and are likely to be important in sex differentiation in dioecious species. Here we characterize 112 microRNAs from adult Schistosoma mansoni individuals, including 84 novel microRNA families, and investigate the expression pattern in different sexes. By deep sequencing, we measured the relative expression levels of conserved and newly identified microRNAs between male and female samples. We observed that 13 microRNAs exhibited sex-biased expression, 10 of which are more abundant in females than in males. Sex chromosomes showed a paucity of female-biased genes, as predicted by theoretical evolutionary models. We propose that the recent emergence of separate sexes in Schistosoma had an effect on the chromosomal distribution and evolution of microRNAs, and that microRNAs are likely to participate in the sex differentiation/maintenance process