Evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function of individuals with diabetes: randomized active-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve endothelial dysfunction and reduce cardiovascular events in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9i) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Whether the addition of PCSK9i to SGLT2i treatment adds benefits is not known. OBJECTIVES: To assess the PCSK9-i effect on the endothelial function of T2D individuals under treatment with SGLT2-i. METHODS: Individuals with T2D were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a 16-week treatment with either empagliflozin (E) or empagliflozin plus evolocumab (EE). The primary endpoint was post-treatment change from baseline in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) at 1-min. Secondary outcomes included changes in plasma levels of nitric oxide metabolites and isoprostane. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 58 years, and 71% were men. The median post-treatment change in FMD at 1-min was 2.7% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.9%) and 0.4% (IQR: 0.9%) in the EE and E groups, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a greater increase in plasma levels of nitrate [5.9 (16.5) vs. 2.6 (11.8); p = 0.001] and nitrite [0.14 (0.72) vs. 0.02 (0.74); p = 0.025] in the EE group than in the E group, respectively. Isoprostane reduction was more pronounced in the EE group when compared to the E group [-1.7 (5.9) vs. -1.1 (5.3); p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with T2D, the addition of evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function.

Intake, digestibility, milk yield and composition, and ingestive behavior of cows supplemented with byproducts from biodiesel industry.

This trial aimed to analyze the effects of including three byproducts from the biodiesel industry on the intake, digestibility, milk yield and composition, and feeding behavior of lactating cows. Eight crossbred Holstein-Zebu lactating cows with average body weight 525 ± 18.5 kg and average milk yield of 8 ± 1.45 kg day-1 were assigned to four treatments (diets) in a double-Latin square design, as follows: a diet based on corn- and soybean meal-based concentrate and three diets with 20% inclusion of byproducts from the biodiesel industry (cottonseed cake, sunflower meal, and castor bean cake) on a total dry matter basis. The cows were housed in individual covered stalls with concrete floor equipped with individual concrete troughs for feeding and automatic drinkers, and fed diets containing 60% sugarcane and 40% concentrate. The inclusion of the byproducts in the diet changed the intake, digestibility of some nutritional components, milk yield and composition, and feeding behavior of lactating cows. The use of cottonseed cake and sunflower meal in the diet increased milk yield, and fat-corrected milk yield; while the use of castor bean cake reduced the intake, digestibility of dry matter and total digestible nutrients, milk yield, and fat-corrected milk yield. The inclusion of byproducts from the biodiesel industry in the diets did not change the fat, lactose, total solids, and solids-not-fat of milk. Therefore, the cottonseed cake and sunflower meal can be included at up to 20% of the total diet.

"Our Country Needs a Strong Leader Right Now": Economic Inequality Enhances the Wish for a Strong Leader.

Societal inequality has been found to harm the mental and physical health of its members and undermine overall social cohesion. Here, we tested the hypothesis that economic inequality is associated with a wish for a strong leader in a study involving 28 countries from five continents (Study 1, N = 6,112), a study involving an Australian community sample (Study 2, N = 515), and two experiments (Study 3a, N = 96; Study 3b, N = 296). We found correlational (Studies 1 and 2) and experimental (Studies 3a and 3b) evidence for our prediction that higher inequality enhances the wish for a strong leader. We also found that this relationship is mediated by perceptions of anomie, except in the case of objective inequality in Study 1. This suggests that societal inequality enhances the perception that society is breaking down (anomie) and that a strong leader is needed to restore order (even when that leader is willing to challenge democratic values).

Therapeutic Use of Scoparia dulcis Reduces the Progression of Experimental Osteoarthritis.

Pain is recognized as one of the main symptoms in knee osteoarthritis and is the main reason why patients seek medical attention. Scoparia dulcis has been popularly used to relieve discomfort caused by various painful conditions. The objective of the study is to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the crude extract of S. dulcis, in an experimental model of osteoarthritis. The experiment was performed with Wistar rats divided into 4 groups with 5 animals each: healthy, saline, crude extract, and meloxicam groups. Knee osteoarthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of sodium mono-iodoacetate. First, clinical parameters of pain were assessed at days 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 after induction. Second, the potential cyclooxygenase inhibition was evaluated, and the cytokines of the synovial fluid were quantified. An in silico test and Molecular Docking tests were performed. A histopathological evaluation was made on articular cartilage with safranin O staining. The results showed that a 15-day treatment with crude extract reduced edema, spontaneous pain, peripheral nociceptive activity, and proinflammatory cytokines in the synovial fluid. The highest inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 in the crude extract occurred at 50 µg/mL. The crude extract of S. dulcis presents therapeutic potential for the treatment of osteoarthritis due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive action.

Time trends of human papillomavirus types in invasive cervical cancer, from 1940 to 2007.

Contribution over time of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in human cancers has been poorly documented. Such data is fundamental to measure current HPV vaccines impact in the years to come. We estimated the HPV type-specific distribution in a large international series of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) over 70 years prior to vaccination. Paraffin embedded ICC cases diagnosed between 1940 and 2007 were retrieved from eleven countries in Central-South America, Asia and Europe. Included countries reported to have low-medium cervical cancer screening uptake. Information on age at and year of diagnosis was collected from medical records. After histological confirmation, HPV DNA detection was performed by SPF-10/DEIA/LiPA25 (version1). Logistic regression models were used for estimating the adjusted relative contributions (RC) of HPV16 and of HPV18 over time. Among 4,771 HPV DNA positive ICC cases, HPV16 and HPV18 were the two most common HPVs in all the decades with no statistically significant variations of their adjusted-RC from 1940-59 to 2000-07 (HPV16-from 61.5 to 62.1%, and HPV18-from 6.9 to 7.2%). As well, the RC of other HPV types did not varied over time. In the stratified analysis by histology, HPV16 adjusted-RC significantly increased across decades in adenocarcinomas. Regarding age, cases associated to either HPV16, 18 or 45 were younger than those with other HPV types in all the evaluated decades. The observed stability on the HPV type distribution predicts a high and stable impact of HPV vaccination in reducing the cervical cancer burden in future vaccinated generations.

Rationale and design of the Brazilian diabetes study: a prospective cohort of type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Optimal control of traditional risk factors only partially attenuates the exceeding cardiovascular mortality of individuals with diabetes. Employment of machine learning (ML) techniques aimed at the identification of novel features of risk prediction is a compelling target to tackle residual cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study is to identify clinical phenotypes of T2D which are more prone to developing cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The Brazilian Diabetes Study is a single-center, ongoing, prospective registry of T2D individuals. Eligible patients are 30 years old or older, with a confirmed T2D diagnosis. After an initial visit for the signature of the informed consent form and medical history registration, all volunteers undergo biochemical analysis, echocardiography, carotid ultrasound, ophthalmologist visit, dual x-ray absorptiometry, coronary artery calcium score, polyneuropathy assessment, advanced glycation end-products reader, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A 5-year follow-up will be conducted by yearly phone interviews for endpoints disclosure. The primary endpoint is the difference between ML-based clinical phenotypes in the incidence of a composite of death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and stroke. Since June/2016, 1030 patients (mean age: 57 years, diabetes duration of 9.7 years, 58% male) were enrolled in our study. The mean follow-up time was 3.7 years in October/2021. CONCLUSION: The BDS will be the first large population-based cohort dedicated to the identification of clinical phenotypes of T2D at higher risk of cardiovascular events. Data derived from this study will provide valuable information on risk estimation and prevention of cardiovascular and other diabetes-related events. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT04949152.

Human papillomavirus genotype attribution in invasive cervical cancer: a retrospective cross-sectional worldwide study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in invasive cervical cancer is crucial to guide the introduction of prophylactic vaccines. We aimed to provide novel and comprehensive data about the worldwide genotype distribution in patients with invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded samples of histologically confirmed cases of invasive cervical cancer were collected from 38 countries in Europe, North America, central South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Inclusion criteria were a pathological confirmation of a primary invasive cervical cancer of epithelial origin in the tissue sample selected for analysis of HPV DNA, and information about the year of diagnosis. HPV detection was done by use of PCR with SPF-10 broad-spectrum primers followed by DNA enzyme immunoassay and genotyping with a reverse hybridisation line probe assay. Sequence analysis was done to characterise HPV-positive samples with unknown HPV types. Data analyses included algorithms of multiple infections to estimate type-specific relative contributions. FINDINGS: 22,661 paraffin-embedded samples were obtained from 14,249 women. 10,575 cases of invasive cervical cancer were included in the study, and 8977 (85%) of these were positive for HPV DNA. The most common HPV types were 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 with a combined worldwide relative contribution of 8196 of 8977 (91%, 95% CI 90-92). HPV types 16 and 18 were detected in 6357 of 8977 of cases (71%, 70-72) of invasive cervical cancer. HPV types 16, 18, and 45 were detected in 443 of 470 cases (94%, 92-96) of cervical adenocarcinomas. Unknown HPV types that were identified with sequence analysis were 26, 30, 61, 67, 69, 82, and 91 in 103 (1%) of 8977 cases of invasive cervical cancer. Women with invasive cervical cancers related to HPV types 16, 18, or 45 presented at a younger mean age than did those with other HPV types (50·0 years [49·6-50·4], 48·2 years [47·3-49·2], 46·8 years [46·6-48·1], and 55·5 years [54·9-56·1], respectively). INTERPRETATION: To our knowledge, this study is the largest assessment of HPV genotypes to date. HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 should be given priority when the cross-protective effects of current vaccines are assessed, and for formulation of recommendations for the use of second-generation polyvalent HPV vaccines. Our results also suggest that type-specific high-risk HPV-DNA-based screening tests and protocols should focus on HPV types 16, 18, and 45.

Photo-selective shading screens as a cover for production of purple lettuce.

Photo-selective shading screens are emerging practices that aim to combine crop physical protection with different solar radiation filtration to achieve desired physiological responses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of photo-selective shading screens on the growth and physiology of purple lettuce for two transplanting seasons in tropical climate in Brazil. A 2 × 4 factorial arrangement was used, being considered the first factor, the transplanting season (spring and fall), and the second factor is the three 35% shading photo-selective shading screens (red, black and silver) and full sun control. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The variables studied were: total fresh matter, total dry matter, leaf number, stem diameter, stem length, leaf area, SPAD chlorophyll index, nitrogen balance indexes, chlorophyll, flavonoids and anthocyanins. The photo-selective shading screens influenced the microclimate and the growth variables of purple lettuce, mainly when these plants were sown in the fall. Planting lettuce during spring may result in lower yields due to the higher investment of plants in secondary metabolites to defend against abiotic stress. According to the results, photo-selective shading screens are an appropriate agronomic technique to reduce phenolic compounds and improve lettuce cultivation conditions and can be implemented within protected cultivation practices to improve crop performance.

No Evidence of Association Between Soccer Heading and Cognitive Performance in Professional Soccer Players: Cross-Sectional Results.

Although the scientific community has focused on the effects of concussions in contact sports, the role of subconcussive impacts, as it can occur during soccer heading, has recently gained attention, considering that it may represent an additional mechanism of cumulative brain injury. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of soccer heading on cognitive functioning in active professional soccer players. Male soccer players (n = 44), from two soccer teams that play in the Brazilian A Series Championship, and non-athletes (n = 47), comparable in age and education, were submitted to cognitive assessment, consisting of computerized and conventional neuropsychological testing (Neupsilin battery). In the computerized cognitive assessment, soccer players performed better than controls on reaction time measures in general motor coordination, executive functioning and memory tests, and on accuracy measures in executive functioning tests. There were no significant differences between groups on the Neupsilin battery. A comparison between two sub-groups of soccer players, based on the self-reported number of headings, did not show significant differences on tests performance. No significant correlations were found between an estimate of exposure to heading during professional soccer career and cognitive performance. Our data demonstrate no evidence of cognitive impairment in soccer players, compared to non-athletes, and no association between heading exposure and performance on neuropsychological tests. Longitudinal investigations, including neuroimaging assessment, will help to clarify whether soccer heading may be associated with brain injury and cognitive dysfunction.

Interstitial cells of Cajal in chagasic megaesophagus.

Chagasic visceromegalies are the most important digestive manifestations of Chagas disease and are characterized by motor disorders and dilation of organs such as esophagus and colon. One of the theories raised to explain the physiopathogenesis of chagasic megas is the plexus theory. Recent studies have shown a reduction of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the colon of chagasic patients. These cells are present throughout the gastrointestinal tract and are considered to be pacemaker cells, that is, they are responsible for coordinating peristalsis and for mediating nerve impulses. In view of the lack of studies on these cells in megaesophagus and the previous observation of a reduction of ICCs in chagasic megacolons, we compared the distribution of ICCs in the esophagus of chagasic and nonchagasic patients to contribute to a better understanding of the physiopathogenesis of this esophageal disease. Esophageal biopsy samples from 10 chagasic and 5 nonchagasic patients were used. Cells were identified with the anti-CD117 antibody. The number of ICCs was quantified in longitudinal and circular muscle layers and myenteric plexus. The results were analyzed statistically by comparison of means. An intense reduction in the number of ICCs was observed in muscle layers and in the myenteric plexus of patients with megaesophagus. We conclude that there is an intense reduction of ICCs in the esophagus of chagasic patients when compared to nonchagasic patients, a finding supporting the important role of these cells in gastrointestinal tract motility. A deficiency in these cells might be implied in the genesis of megaesophagus.

Conceptions of Hegemonic Masculinity as a Mediator of Sexism Directed at Women / Concepções de Masculinidade Hegemônica como Mediadora do Sexismo Direcionado às Mulheres

ABSTRACT This article analyses the relationship between masculine identity and ambivalent sexism, considering concepts of masculinity and culture of honour as mediating variables in this relationship. For this purpose, two studies were carried out with male participants from two regions of Brazil, Midwest (119 participants) and Northeast (117 participants). The results indicated that the concepts of masculinity are mediators of the relationship between masculine identity and ambivalent sexism. In contrast, the culture of honour did not remain significant in the mediation model. We conclude that the conception of masculinity based on hegemonic precepts of gender restates masculine superiority in detriment to the feminine, naturalizes sexism and violent behaviour for maintenance of masculine identity.

RESUMO Este artigo analisa a relação entre identidade masculina e sexismo ambivalente, tomando as concepções de masculinidade e a cultura da honra como variáveis mediadoras dessa relação. Para alcançar este objetivo, foram realizados dois estudos com participantes homens de duas regiões do país, Centro-oeste (119 participantes) e Nordeste (117 participantes). Os resultados indicaram que as concepções de masculinidade são mediadoras da relação entre identidade masculina e o sexismo ambivalente. Em contraste, a cultura da honra não se manteve significativa no modelo da mediação. Conclui-se que a concepção de uma masculinidade, baseada em preceitos hegemônicos de gênero, reafirma a superioridade masculina em detrimento à feminina, e naturaliza práticas de sexismo e comportamentos violentos em defesa da manutenção da identidade masculina.

Common bile duct investigation in patients with mild biliary pancreatitis. when and how? A prospective analysis of 48 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To define how and when patients with mild acute biliary pancreatitis must have their biliary tree investigated. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed 48 patients' files with mild biliary pancreatitis between 1995 and 2004. After clinical treatment, magnetic resonance or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and then surgery was performed. Statistical data were analyzed through SPSS version 11.0. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, 13 (27%) patients had choledocholithiasis. Five of these (38%) were diagnosed and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and 8 (62%) patients had choledocholithiasis at magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. These 8 patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography which found common bile duct stones in only 4 (50%) of them that were treated successfully with papillotomy. All patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the same hospital stay with a low morbidity and no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that patients with mild biliary pancreatitis should have their biliary tree investigated just after clinical recovery and as close as possible to the operation because many gallstones pass spontaneously through the papillae. We believe that magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography can avoid an unnecessary endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

[Alcoholization in the treatment of thyroid nodule in colloid goiter endemic region]. / Alcoolização de nódulo tiroidiano em região endêmica de bócio colóide.

Thyroid nodular disease is a common clinical disorder mainly in iodine lacking regions. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of single, multiple, solid, and cystic thyroid nodules of different sizes with or without glandular dysfunction, in goiter endemic region. Forty-two patients with diagnosis of colloid goiter or colloid nodular hyperplasia in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were selected for analysis, after having been submitted to at least two PEI. Thyroid nodules were multiple (solid and or cystic) in 52.4% of the patients, single and solid or mixed in 35.7%, and single and cystic in 11.9%. The mean reduction of nodules after ethanol injection was of 58.2% in the single and of 60.8% in the cystic ones. The reduction of the whole thyroid lobe was evaluated in the multiple nodules and it reached 52.4%. The side-effects were registered only as a consequence of the application discomfort. This study points out that the percutaneous ethanol injection reaching volume mean reductions, varying from 49% to 60%, is a safe, effective, and simple method for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.

O surgimento de líderes autoritários: significados das posições direita-esquerda e sentimento de anomia / The emergence of authoritarian leaders: meanings of right-left positions and sense of anomie / El surgimiento de líderes autoritarios: significados de las posiciones derecha-izquierda y sentimiento de anomia

Analisa-se, em dois estudos, a relação entre o sentimento de anomia, os significados das posições políticas e o desejo por líderes autoritários. No estudo 1 (n = 230; idade média = 20,99; 50,9% de sexo masculino), os resultados indicaram que o voto em Jair Bolsonaro se correlacionou com o desejo por um líder autoritário, menor anomia política e um posicionamento mais à Direita no espectro político. No estudo 2 (n = 181; idade média = 29,1; 59,1% de sexo masculino), verificamos que a Direita é significada como "liberalismo-conservador"; enquanto a Esquerda foi associada ao "Comunismo/Socialismo", pelos de Direita e Centro, ou à defesa das minorias, pelos demais. Concluímos sugerindo a necessidade de maior atenção, científica e política, ao surgimento de populismos constitucionais e à existência de semelhança semântica nas visões dos participantes de Direita, Centro e dos sem posição política em relação à Esquerda.

We analyzed the relationship between the sense of anomie, the meanings of political positions and the desire for authoritarian leaders in two studies. In study 1 (n = 230; mean age = 20.99; 50.9% male), the results indicated that voting for Jair Bolsonaro was correlated with a desire for an authoritarian leader, less political anomie and a position further to the Right on the political spectrum. In study 2 (n = 181; mean age = 29.1; 59.1% male), we found that the Right is meant as "conservative-liberalism"; while the Left was associated with "Communism/Socialism", by the Right and Center participants, or with the defense of minorities, by the others. We conclude suggesting the need for greater scientific and political attention to the emergence of constitutional populisms and the existence of semantic similarity in the views of participant from the Right, Center and those without a political position in relation to the Left.

Analizamos, en dos estudios, la relación entre la anomia, los significados de las posiciones políticas y el deseo de un líder autoritario. En el estudio 1 (n = 230; media de edad = 20,99; 50,9% masculino), el voto por Jair Bolsonaro se correlacionó con el deseo de un líder autoritario, menos anomia política y un posicionamiento de derecha en el espacio político. En el estudio 2 (n = 181; media de edad = 29,1; 59,1% hombres), encontramos que la Derecha es entendida como "liberal-conservador"; mientras que la Izquierda se asoció con el "comunismo/socialismo", por los participantes de la Derecha y del Centro, o la defensa de las minorías, por los demás. Concluimos sugiriendo la necesidad de una mayor atención científica y política a la aparición de populismos constitucionales y la existencia de similitudes semánticas en los puntos de vista de los de Derecha, Centro y sin posición política en relación con la Izquierda.

Nimesulide inhibits pathogenic fungi: PGE2-dependent mechanisms.

Certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit fungal growth, fungal prostaglandin E2 production, and enzyme activation. This study aims to investigate the antifungal effect of nimesulide against pathogenic filamentous fungi and yeast. The experiments detailed below were also designed to investigate whether the action is dependent on E2 fungal prostaglandins. Our data showed that nimesulide exhibited potent antifungal activity, mainly against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ATCC 9533) and Cryptococcus neoformans with MIC values of 2 and 62 µg/mL, respectively. This drug was also able to inhibit the growth of clinic isolates of filamentous fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, and dermatophytes, such as T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, and M. gypseum, with MIC values ranging from 112 to 770 µg/mL. Our data also showed that the inhibition of fungal growth by nimesulide was mediated by a mechanism dependent on PGE2, which led to the inhibition of essential fungal enzymes. Thus, we concluded that nimesulide exerts a fungicidal effect against pathogenic filamentous fungi and yeast, involving the inhibition of fungal prostaglandins and fungal enzymes important to the fungal growth and colonization.

Crime and Punishment: the Impact of Skin Color and Socioeconomic Status of Defendants and Victims in Jury Trials in Brazil.

Social judgments are often influenced by racism. Voluntary crimes against life, and in particular the crime of homicide, may be the most critical situations of the impact of racism in social judgments. We analyzed 114 homicide trials conducted by the 1st Jury Court, in a Brazilian judicial capital, concluded between 2003 and 2007, for the purpose of investigating the effects of skin color and the socioeconomic status of the defendant and the victim of homicides in the jury trial court's decision. The results indicate that the social and economic profile of defendants and victims of homicide is identical. They are almost all poor (more than 70%), with low education (more than 73%) and frequently non-Whites (more than 88%). We found that judges assign longer sentences to black (ß = .34, p = .01) and poor defendants (ß = .23, p < .05). We even verified that the poorer the defendant, the higher was the corresponding conviction rate (Wald's Test = 5.90, p < .05). The results are discussed based on theories of social psychology and criminological sociology, which consider the relationship between skin color and socioeconomic status in social judgments and in discrimination.

Conteúdo dos Estereótipos e Preconceito Racial: Efeitos da Cordialidade e da Competência / Content of Stereotypes and Racial Prejudice: Effects of Cordiality and Competence

Resumo Utilizando o Modelo do Conteúdo dos Estereótipos (MCE), analisou-se, em dois estudos, as relações das dimensões de cordialidade e competência com as expressões de preconceito racial. No Estudo 1, participaram 169 universitários (M idade=21,7 anos, 47% pardos). Verificou-se a existência de preconceito implícito, a maior atribuição de competência aos brancos que aos negros e a relação positiva entre racismo moderno e atribuição de competência aos brancos. No Estudo 2, participaram 143 universitários (M idade=25,4 anos, 64,9% pardos). Verificou-se que negros descritos como malsucedidos-amáveis receberam maior estereotipia de competência do que brancos malsucedidos-frios. Concluiu-se que: 1) a dimensão da cordialidade não se aplicou aos negros e 2) existe uma relação entre o MCE e a expressão do preconceito racial.

Abstract Using the Stereotype Content Model (SCT), we analyzed in two studies the relationship between the dimensions of warmth and competence of stereotypes with the racial prejudice expressions. In the first study, 169 undergraduates participated (M age=21.7 years, 47% brown skin). We found implicit prejudice, greater attribution of competence to whites than to blacks and a relationship between modern racism and attribution of competence to whites. In the second study, 143 undergraduates took part (M age=25.4, 64.9% brown skin). We found that blacks described as incompetent-friendly received greater competence stereotyping than whites incompetent-cold. We concluded that: 1) the dimension of warmth did not apply to blacks and 2) there is a relationship between SCT and racial prejudice expressions.

Hipossuficiência de vitamina D em pacientes atendidos em um laboratório de análises clínicas de Salvador, Bahia / Vitamin D hypo-sufficiency in patients attended in a clinical analysis laboratory in Salvador city, Bahia

Objetivo: Avaliar a frequência de hipossuficiência em vitamina D em soteropolitanos atendidos em um laboratório de análises clínicas de Salvador entre os anos de 2015 e 2018. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de corte transversal, retrospectivo, com amostra de conveniência. Foram prospectados dados sobre a dosagem de 25-hidróxi-vitamina D (OH25) de pacientes atendidos no Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais (APAE). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas no software GraphPad Prism a partir da estratificação por níveis séricos de vitamina D, gênero, faixa etária e procedência do paciente. Os valores de referência utilizados na análise da vitamina D estão em consonância com as recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia. Resultados: Foram analisados 2.263 pacientes com idade entre 1 e 99 anos (mediana = 53; IQ= 35 e 64), sendo 82,39% do sexo feminino. Dentre as 1.863 mulheres analisadas, 602 (32,31%) desvelaram níveis deficientes e 731 (39,24%) insuficientes. Entre os homens, 105 (26,38%) foram categorizados como deficientes e 150 (37,69%) insuficientes. Crianças menores de 12 anos exibiram os maiores níveis de vitamina D (mediana = 32,69) e adultos com mais de 80 anos apresentaram os menores níveis (mediana = 20,95). Todos os grupos etários evidenciaram mais de 40% dos indivíduos com hipossuficiência em vitamina D. Conclusão: Os resultados deste trabalho ratificam um percentual elevado de hipovitaminose D em todas as faixas etárias, suscitando necessidade de reflexão pelos órgãos competentes sobre o ajuste dos valores de referência ou suplementação de vitamina D na população.

Objective: To assess the frequency of vitamin D hypo-sufficiency in patients at a clinical analysis laboratory in Salvador between the years 2015 and 2018. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. Data on the dosage of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (OH25) from patients seen at the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of APAE were prospected. Statistical analyzes were performed using the GraphPad Prism software based on stratification by serum vitamin D levels, gender, age and origin of the patient. The reference values used in the analysis of vitamin D are in line with the recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology. Results: 2,263 patients aged 1 to 99 years (median = 53; IQ = 35 and 64) were evaluated, 82.39% of whom were female. Among the 1,863 women analyzed, 602 (32.31%) revealed deficient levels and 731 (39.24%) insuficiente levels. Among men, 105 (26.38%) were categorized as deficient and 150 (37.69%) were insufficient. Children under 12 years old had the highest levels of vitamin D (median = 32.69) and adults over 80 years old had the lowest levels (median = 20.95). All age groups showed more than 40% of individuals with low vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion: The studied sample showed a high percentage of hypovitaminosis D, to be revealing the need for reflection by organs competent of vitamin D supplementation in the general population or the adjustment of reference values.

Revisiting the Measurement of Anomie.

Sociologists coined the term "anomie" to describe societies that are characterized by disintegration and deregulation. Extending beyond conceptualizations of anomie that conflate the measurements of anomie as 'a state of society' and as a 'state of mind', we disentangle these conceptualizations and develop an analysis and measure of this phenomenon focusing on anomie as a perception of the 'state of society'. We propose that anomie encompasses two dimensions: a perceived breakdown in social fabric (i.e., disintegration as lack of trust and erosion of moral standards) and a perceived breakdown in leadership (i.e., deregulation as lack of legitimacy and effectiveness of leadership). Across six studies we present evidence for the validity of the new measure, the Perception of Anomie Scale (PAS). Studies 1a and 1b provide evidence for the proposed factor structure and internal consistency of PAS. Studies 2a-c provide evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Finally, assessing PAS in 28 countries, we show that PAS correlates with national indicators of societal functioning and that PAS predicts national identification and well-being (Studies 3a & 3b). The broader implications of the anomie construct for the study of group processes are discussed.

Intestinal spirochetosis and colon diverticulosis.

A case of intestinal spirochetosis in a 62-year-old white male is reported. The condition was characterized by chronic flatulence and episodes of intestinal hemorrhage, in addition to the evidence of hypotonic diverticular disease, with a large number of slender organisms in the colon epithelium and cryptae. Spirochetes were demonstrated by Whartin-Starry stain. The serologic tests for syphilis and HIV were positive. Spirochetosis was treated with penicillin G, and the patient remains free of intestinal complaints 20 months later.