Sex-Related Memory Recall and Talkativeness for Emotional Stimuli

Recent studies have evidenced an increasing interest in sex-related brain mechanisms and cerebral lateralization subserving emotional memory, language processing, and conversational behavior. We used event-related-potentials (ERP) to examine the influence of sex and hemisphere on brain responses to emotional stimuli. Given that the P300 component of ERP is considered a cognitive neuroelectric phenomenon, we compared left and right hemisphere P300 responses to emotional stimuli in men and women. As indexed by both amplitude and latency measures, emotional stimuli elicited more robust P300 effects in the left hemisphere in women than in men, while a stronger P300 component was elicited in the right hemisphere in men compared to women. Our findings show that the variables of sex and hemisphere interacted significantly to influence the strength of the P300 component to the emotional stimuli. Emotional stimuli were also best recalled when given a long-term, incidental memory test, a fact potentially related to the differential P300 waves at encoding. Moreover, taking into account the sex-related differences in language processing and conversational behavior, in the present study we evaluated possible talkativeness differences between the two genders in the recollection of emotional stimuli. Our data showed that women used a higher number of words, compared to men, to describe both arousal and neutral stories. Moreover, the present results support the view that sex differences in lateralization may not be a general feature of language processing but may be related to the specific condition, such as the emotional content of stimuli

Liderança e Organização Publica Universitária: Uma abordagem de Ciência do Comportamento no Mundo Moderno.

O presente artigo dá um passo significante para a melhor compreensão da liderança e instituição em um ambiente público universitária, quanto ao comportamento da modernização, sobre o fenômeno da liderança em equipe e o comportamento do líder. São elementos de suma importância quando se busca otimizar ações empreendedoras para alcançar os objetivos das unidades de informação. Enfatiza a responsabilidade dessas instituições de ensino superiores na formação de líderes capazes de promover estratégias flexíveis que garantam soluções ágeis e adequadas para que superem os obstáculos e as incertezas do futuro e sobrevivam aos desafios da atualidade

Executive Dysfunctions: The Role in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Post-traumatic Stress Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Executive functions (EFs) is an umbrella term for various cognitive processes controlled by a complex neural activity, which allow the production of different types of behaviors seeking to achieve specific objectives, one of them being inhibitory control. There is a wide consensus that clinical and behavioral alterations associated with EF, such as inhibitory control, are present in various neuropsychiatric disorders. This paper reviews the research literature on the relationship between executive dysfunction, frontal-subcortical neural circuit changes, and the psychopathological processes associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A revision on the role of frontal-subcortical neural circuits and their presumable abnormal functioning and the high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms could explain the difficulties with putting effector mechanisms into action, giving individuals the necessary tools to act efficiently in their environment. Although neuronal substrate data about ADHD and PTSD has been reported in the literature, it is isolated. Therefore, this review highlights the overlapping of neural substrates in the symptomatology of ADHD and PTSD disorders concerning EFs, especially in the inhibitory component. Thus, the changes related to impaired EF that accompany disorders like ADHD and PTSD could be explained by disturbances that have a direct or indirect impact on the functioning of these loops. Initially, the theoretical model of EF according to current neuropsychology will be presented, focusing on the inhibitory component. In a second stage, this component will be analyzed for each of the disorders of interest, considering the clinical aspects, the etiology and the neurobiological basis. Additionally, commonalities between the two neuropsychiatric conditions will be taken into consideration from the perspectives of cognitive and emotional inhibition. Finally, the implications and future prospects for research and interventions in the area will be outlined, with the intention of contributing scientific reference information that encompasses the knowledge and understanding of executive dysfunction and its relationship with these treated disorders

A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder caused by the presence of antibodies to the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TRAbs), usually presenting with clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. Previous evidence suggests that higher serum levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) may lead to more sustained remission of hyperthyroidism after treatment with antithyroid drugs (AT). However, doubts about the influence of TPOAbs in Graves' disease outcomes still remain. Methods A retrospective, unicenter cohort study was performed. All patients with GD (TRAbs > 1.58U/L), biochemical primary hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0.4 µUI/mL), and TPOAbs measurement at diagnosis, treated with AT between January 2008 and January 2021, were included for analysis. Results One hundred and forty-two patients (113 women) with a mean age of 52 ± 15 years old were included. They were followed up for 65.4 ± 43.8 months. TPOAbs positivity was present in 71.10% (n=101) of those patients. Patients were treated with AT for a median of 18 (IQR (12; 24)) months. Remission occurred in 47.2% of patients. Patients with remission presented with lower TRAbs and free thyroxine (FT4) levels at the diagnosis. (p-value <0.001, p-value 0.003, respectively). No association was found in the median TPOAbs serum levels of patients who remitted and those who maintained biochemical hyperthyroidism after the first course of AT. Relapse of hyperthyroidism occurred in 54 patients (57.4%). No difference was found in TPOAbs serum levels regarding the patient's relapse. Moreover, a time-based analysis revealed no differences in the relapse rate after 18 months of AT therapy between patients with and without TPOAbs positivity at the diagnosis (p-value 0.176). It was found a weak positive correlation (r=0.295; p-value <0.05) between TRAbs and TPOAbs titters at the moment of Graves' diagnosis. Conclusion In this study, a correlation between TRAbs measurements and TPOAbs titter was described, although no significant association was found between the presence of TPOAbs and the outcomes of patients with GD treated with AT. These results do not support the use of TPOAbs as a useful biomarker to predict remission or relapse of hyperthyroidism in GD patients.publishersversionpublishe

RISCO DE DOENÇA TROMBOLÍTICAS APÓS O USO DE ALGESTONA ACETOFENIDA E ENANTATO DE ESTRADIOL

Muitos estudos tem demonstrado que há um risco acentuado de doenças trombolíticas, que podem ser agravadas com predisposições a obesidade, fatores genéticos, fumantes e entre outros. No entanto, estes riscos não são, normalmente citados antes do uso métodos contraceptivos hormonais. Sendo assim, muitas mulheres estão expostas a riscos graves a saúde durante o uso de contraceptivos hormonais. Logo, o intuito do nosso estudo foi avaliar uso prolongado da substância algestona acetofenida e enantato de estradiol sobre o ciclo menstrual de fêmeas cativas de Sapajus libidinosus (macaco-prego). Para tal, foram usadas 06 fêmeas adultas de macaco-prego mantidas no Centro de Primatologia da Universidade de Brasília CP/UnB. Para fins experimentais, as fêmeas receberam uma dose única de 0,10 ml do contraceptivo injetável, que foi administrado a cada 21 dias. Sendo assim, cada fêmea recebeu 05 administrações de contraceptivo consecutivas. Também foram realizadas 12 coletas de sanguíneas de cada fêmea, por meio deste material biológico foram analisados os fatores de coagulação sanguínea, por exemplos, número de plaquetas, fibrinogênio e tempos de protrombina (TP) e tromboplastina (TTPa). Os resultados obtidos permitiram identificar que houve alterações nos fatores de coagulação sanguínea, pois foi registrado um aumento no número de plaquetas (F1,61=450.92; p&lt;0.05) e redução nos tempos de TP (F1,61=91.77; p&lt;0.001) e TTPa (F1,61=42.94; p&lt;0.001). Diante disso é possível mencionar que o contraceptivo administrado nas fêmeas de macaco-prego promoveu alterações nos parâmetros fisiológicos, que são relacionados nos fatores de coagulação. Neste sentido, as fêmeas de macaco-prego podem ser um modelo animal importante, para estudos sobre o tema na medida em que os resultados aqui obtidos demonstram que, fisiologicamente, elas apresentam alterações semelhantes àquelas, que também são encontradas nas mulheres usuárias de contraceptivo hormonal combinado

QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE PACIENTES RENAIS CRÔNICOS EM HEMODIÁLISE / QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Introdução. A doença renal crônica constitui um grande problema de saúde pública, podendo levar o portador a necessitar de tratamento hemodialítico, o que causa uma série de modificações no cotidiano, com restrições e comprometimento da qualidade de vida. Objetivo. Caracterizar o perfil dos portadores de doença renal crônica submetidos a tratamento hemodialítico e avaliar sua qualidade de vida. Método. Estudo transversal analítico realizado no Centro de Nefrologia do Maranhão. Os dados foram coletados no período de agosto a dezembro de 2009 por meio do instrumento abreviado, traduzido para o português e validado para a população brasileira Kidney Disease and Quality of Life - Short Form (KDQOL-SF TM 1.3). Resultados. Foram entrevistados 110 pacientes sendo 60% homens, a faixa etária predominante foi de 50 e 59 anos (23 %).  Foi evidenciado prejuízo na qualidade de vida para as seguintes dimensões: Função Física, Sobrecarga da Doença Renal, Função Sexual, Função Emocional e Papel Profissional, sendo esta última a mais afetada, com média de 14,8. Os maiores valores encontrados estão nas dimensões Estímulo por Parte da Equipe de Diálise e Função Cognitiva, com médias de 91,1 e 85,4, respectivamente. Conclusão. Os resultados evidenciaram que os pacientes sofreram restrições e comprometimento em sua qualidade de vida correlacionado com aspectos físicos, sociais, mentais e emocionais.Palavras-chave: Qualidade de vida. Doença renal crônica. Hemodiálise.AbstractIntroduction. The chronic renal failure represents a major public health problem. This disease may lead to the necessity for hemodialysis treatment and thus causing several changes in the everyday life of patients with limitations and impairment of their quality of life. Objective. To characterize the profile of patients with chronic renal failure disease on hemodialysis and evaluate the patients' quality of life. Methods. Analytical and cross-sectional study performed in the nephrology center of Maranhão. Data were collected from August to December 2009 using the Kidney Disease and Quality of Life - Short Form (KDQOL-SF TM 1.3) which was abbreviated and translated into Portuguese as well as validated by the brazilian population. Results. Out of 110 patients interviewed, 60% were males. Most of them (23%) were from 50 to 59 years of age. The results showed that the domains physical functioning, burden of renal disease, sexual function, emotional function and professional role contributed to impairment in quality of life. Professional role was the domain that most contributed with an average of 14.8. The highest scores were found in the domains dialysis staff encouragement and cognitive function with 91.1 and 85.4, respectively. Conclusion. The patients suffered limitations and impairment in their quality of life correlated with physical, social, mental and emotional aspects. Keywords: Quality of life. Chronic renal failure. Hemodialysis

Middle Childhood Adverse Psychomotor Outcomes from Malaria in Pregnancy: A Study using the Denver Developmental Screening Test-II

Objective: to evaluate changes in the development of premature children aged 5 to 6 years, born to mothers with malaria during pregnancy and to compare them to a control group of premature children born to mothers who did not have malaria during pregnancy. Methods: cross-sectional and analytical study. The Denver test-II was applied to 20 children in the study group and 20 children in the control group. Results: in the group of premature children of mothers with malaria during pregnancy, the vast majority showed abnormal performance with more significant changes in the activities of the language sector "define seven words", "say two compound words", "understand four prepositions" and "account five blocks”, “knows three adjectives”. In the fine-adaptive motor sector, the activities "draw people with six parts", "copy disassembled square", "copy +" and in the gross motor sector "swing your foot for six seconds", "swing your foot for five seconds", "swing the foot for four seconds", "rocks the foot for three seconds", were the most important developmental changes. In the control group, the performance of suspected delay or possible abnormality was more concentrated in the gross motor sector. Conclusions: children from 5 to 6 years of age, born prematurely to mothers with malaria during pregnancy, 80% had suspected abnormal performance, a result much higher than the group of children born prematurely to mothers without malaria. These results strongly suggest that malaria disease during pregnancy alters fetal development, producing developmental sequelae that can be detected even at 5 to 6 years of age. In addition, the results support the use of the Denver test-II as a simple screening method for the assessment of delays in child development, covering broad motor coordination (coarse), fine motor coordination (adaptive), language and personal-social adaptation. This test has been used to identify children who are at risk of developing problems and to monitor the child longitudinally

Development of a risk score for earlier diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in children

Objective To develop a clinical score for the early identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children and adolescents. The early diagnosis of CKD in childhood allows the adoption of measures to slow the progression of the disease, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the diagnosis is often made too late for proper patient management. Study design We preformed a case-control study of a multicenter Brazilian sample of 752 pediatric patients; the study cases (n = 376) were CKD patients with a median estimated GFR of 37 (IQR = 22 to 57) ml/min/1.73 m(2). The control group (n = 376) comprised age-, gender-and center-matched children who were followed for nonrenal diseases. Potential risk factors were investigated through a standard questionnaire that included symptoms, medical history, and a clinical examination. Two multivariable models (A and B) were fitted to assess predictors of the diagnosis of CKD. Results In model A, 9 variables were associated with CKD diagnosis: antenatal ultrasound with urinary malformation, recurrent urinary tract infection, polyuria, abnormal urine stream, nocturia, growth curve flattening, history of hypertension, foamy urine and edema (c-statistic = 0.938). Model B had the same variables as model A, except for the addition of the history of admission during the neonatal period and the exclusion of antenatal ultrasound variables (c-statistic = 0.927). Conclusions The present scores may serve as a warning sign for CKD diagnosis in children among professionals working in the primary care setting where the symptoms associated with a risk of CKD may be overlooked14

Comparative Anatomical Analyses of the Forearm Muscles of Cebus libidinosus (Rylands et al. 2000): Manipulatory Behavior and Tool Use

The present study describes the flexor and extensor muscles in Cebus libidinosus' forearm and compares them with those from humans, chimpanzees and baboons. The data is presented in quantitative anatomical indices for similarity. The capuchin forearm muscles showed important similarities with chimpanzees and humans, particularly those that act on thumb motion and allow certain degree of independence from other hand structures, even though their configuration does not enable a true opposable thumb. The characteristics of Cebus' forearm muscles corroborate the evolutionary convergence towards an adaptive behavior (tool use) between Cebus genus and apes

Interaction between Neural and Cardiac Systems during the Execution of the Stroop Task by Young Adults: Electroencephalographic Activity and Heart Rate Variability

Executive processes and heart rate variability (HRV) are supposedly regulated by an integrated inhibitory neurovisceral network mainly coordinated by the prefrontal cortex. Inhibitory control, a core executive function, is demanded by the Stroop task. This study aimed to assess the interaction between electroencephalographic activity and HRV of 50 healthy undergraduate students while performing a computerized version of the Stroop task with three stages (paradigmatic congruent – CS – and incongruent – IS – stages in addition to a stage in which words were phonetically similar to color names – PSS). Behavioral results suggested a Stroop interference effect among the stages, with greater difficulty in IS followed by PSS. A pattern of cortical activation in a frontoparietal gradient with left lateralization and involvement of the prefrontal, temporal and occipital cortices was found especially in IS and PSS, which might be correlated to executive control of behavior, inhibitory control, mental representation of words, preparation of the verbal response, and processing of visual stimuli. Mean power of brain activity (μV) was higher for IS and PSS for all tested frequency oscillations. HRV parameters of SDNN and pNN50 were smaller in PSS compared to the other stages, while rMSSD was higher for CS, suggesting higher mental stress for IS and PSS. During PSS, LF/HF ratio was negatively correlated with EEG power in frontal, central and temporal regions whilst rMSSD was positively correlated with activity in frontal and parietal regions. Therefore, marked prefrontal cortex activity was associated with parasympathetic dominance, which is in line with the integrated inhibitory neural network model. In summation, the execution of the Stroop task required increased recruitment of prefrontal cortical areas and led to high mental stress, but, as it was associated with parasympathetic dominance of HRV control, conflict was solved and subjects behaved successfully