Motivos da prática de dança de salão nas aulas de educação física escolar

O estudo de corte transversal analisou os motivos da prática da dança de salão nas aulas de Educação Física escolar de escolas particulares, relacionando-os com o gênero, seu tempo de prática e participação em eventos de dança de salão. Obteve-se uma amostra de 279 alunos com idade de 15,5 ± 1,0 anos, matriculados nas aulas de dança de salão como Educação Física escolar. Aplicou-se o questionário de motivação para as atividades desportivas - QMAD, adaptado de SERPA e FRIAS (1990) e SERPA (1991). Analisou-se os dados através da estatística descritiva e inferencial, com nível de significância de 95%. Foram encontradas associações significativas entre os motivos e gêneros (r = 0,285; - 0,172); tempo de prática (r = 0,174) e frequência em eventos (r = 0,122; - 0,156). A dança de salão oferece em sua prática uma ferramenta de inúmeras possibilidades, onde cada um de seus praticantes procura preencher as suas próprias necessidades. De acordo com os resultados levantados percebe-se que os alunos estão motivados com a prática de dança de salão na escola havendo diferenças entre o gênero, o tempo de prática e a frequência nos eventos. Diante disto sugere-se a criação de propostas metodológicas condizentes com os principais motivos dos alunos nas aulas de dança de salão dentro do ambiente da Educação Física escolar.The transversal study analyzed the reasons for the practice of ballroom dance in the curricular physical activity in private schools, relating them to the gender, its practice time and participation in ballroom dance events. The study was composed of 279 students at the age of 15.5 ± 1.0, enrolled in ballroom dance as part of regular physical education. The Sport Motivation Questionnaire - SMQ, adapted from SERPA and FRIAS (1990), SERPA (1992) was used. The descriptive and inferential statistics were used with a 95% significance level. Significant associations were found between reasons and the genders (r = 0.285; - 0.172); practice time (r = 0.174) and event frequency (r = 0.122; - 0.156). The ballroom dance offers in its practice a tool of countless possibilities, in which each of its participants search to fulfil their own necessities. According to the risen results it is noticeable that students are motivated with the practice of ballroom dance in schools presenting differences in gender, practice time, and event attendance. Then, it is suggested the creation of methodological proposals coherent to the main goals of the students of ballroom dance within the regular physical education environment in schools

Identification of a biological signature for schizophrenia in serum

Biomarkers are now used in many areas of medicine but are still lacking for psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia (SCZ). We have used a multiplex molecular profiling approach to measure serum concentrations of 181 proteins and small molecules in 250 first and recent onset SCZ, 35 major depressive disorder (MDD), 32 euthymic bipolar disorder (BPD), 45 Asperger syndrome and 280 control subjects. Preliminary analysis resulted in identification of a signature comprised of 34 analytes in a cohort of closely matched SCZ (n = 71) and control (n = 59) subjects. Partial least squares discriminant analysis using this signature gave a separation of 60-75% of SCZ subjects from controls across five independent cohorts. The same analysis also gave a separation of similar to 50% of MDD patients and 10-20% of BPD and Asperger syndrome subjects from controls. These results demonstrate for the first time that a biological signature for SCZ can be identified in blood serum. This study lays the groundwork for development of a diagnostic test that can be used as an aid for distinguishing SCZ subjects from healthy controls and from those affected by related psychiatric illnesses with overlapping symptoms. Molecular Psychiatry (2012) 17, 494-502; doi:10.1038/mp.2011.42; published online 12 April 201

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy accurately estimate the severity of steatosis provided the stage of fibrosis is considered

Background/Aims: Currently the diagnosis and severity of hepatic steatosis can be established accurately only by liver biopsy. Previous small studies found that steatosis measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and imaging (MRI) correlated with histological assessment of liver triglyceride content. However, the accuracy of MRS/MRI for grading the severity of steatosis has not been addressed. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether MRS and MRI can discriminate grades of steatosis in a large cohort of consecutive patients with a wide spectrum of liver disease aetiology and severity (2) to evaluate the effect of hepatic fibrosis, inflammation and iron on quantitation of intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) by these techniques

Antimicrobial efficiency of film incorporated with pediocin (ALTA® 2351) on preservation of sliced ham

Antimicrobial packaging, besides protecting the product from external environment, inhibits or retards microorganism growth in foods, minimizing direct addition of preservatives and satisfying the actual demand of consumers for healthier foods, containing less additives. Pediocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by Pediococcus sp. and researches have revealed their ability to inhibit the growth of some pathogenic bacteria. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of films incorporated with pediocin on sliced ham conservation. The antimicrobial films were incorporated with pediocin (25% and 50%) in a cellulose base emulsion. The antimicrobial efficiency of the films against Listeria innocua e Salmonella sp. on sliced ham was tested by means of a challenge test, in which the slices were immersed in 0.1% peptone solution containing about 106 CFU/mL of L. innocua or Salmonella sp. The experiment was set up overlapping the slices of ham with the films (control, 25% and 50% of pediocin). These systems were packaged under vacuum and stored at 12 °C. The slices of ham were analyzed for L. innocua and Salmonella sp. counts at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 storage days. The antimicrobial films were more effective inhibiting growth of L. innocua. The 50% pediocin-film presented a reduction of 2 log cycles in relation to control treatment after 15 days of storage. The 25% and 50% pediocin-films had similar performance on Salmonella sp. inhibition, both presenting 0.5 log cycle reduction in relation to control, after 12 days of storage. Hence, the films incorporated with pediocin showed potential use as one hurdle technology added in the storage period among others good manufacturing practices for preservation of sliced ham