Do predator attacks on productive species and the respective economic losses influence the psychological distress of farmers in Uruguay? A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: In Uruguay, productive animals are attacked by various predators, causing injuries and financial losses, leading to great concern for farmers. The objective of this study was to determine, using a cross-sectional study, if predator attacks on productive animals during the year 2021 influenced the psychological distress of farmers. METHODS: Four hundred and forty-two farmers from around the country were surveyed with questions according to the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (dependent variable), and predator attacks received in 2021 (independent variable). RESULTS: Of the total number of farmers surveyed, approximately 49% (216/442) had animals that had been attacked by predators. Farmers whose productive species were attacked in 2021 had higher levels of psychological distress than those whose animals were not attacked (p<0.01). Additionally, farmers who reported the highest levels of psychological distress had more deaths of productive species (and more financial losses) from predator attacks in 2021 than those who did not. CONCLUSION: The losses of productive species and the financial costs negatively influenced the psychological distress of farmers. This information highlights the need to generate public policies about farmers wellbeing that help them in these situations.

Associations of MYPN, TTN, SCN5A, MYO6 and ELN Mutations With Arrhythmias and Subsequent Sudden Cardiac Death: A Case Report of an Ecuadorian Individual.

Cardiac pathologies are among the most frequent causes of death worldwide. Regarding cardiovascular deaths, it is estimated that 5 million cases are caused by sudden cardiac death (SCD) annually. The primary cause of SCD is ventricular arrhythmias. Genomic studies have provided pathogenic, likely pathogenic, and variants of uncertain significance that may predispose individuals to cardiac causes of sudden death. In this study, we describe the case of a 43-year-old individual who experienced an episode of aborted SCD. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator was placed to prevent further SCD episodes. The diagnosis was ventricular fibrillation. Genomic analysis revealed some variants in the MYPN (pathogenic), GCKR (likely pathogenic), TTN (variant of uncertain significance), SCN5A (variant of uncertain significance), MYO6 (variant of uncertain significance), and ELN (variant of uncertain significance) genes, which could be associated with SCD episodes. In addition, a protein-protein interaction network was obtained, with proteins related to ventricular arrhythmia and the biological processes involved. Therefore, this study identified genetic variants that may be associated with and trigger SCD in the individual. Moreover, genetic variants of uncertain significance, which have not been reported, could contribute to the genetic basis of the disease.

Utility of the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire to Identify College Students At-Risk for Alcohol Related Problems: Relative Operating Characteristics across Seven Countries.

Background: It is important to identify students who would benefit from early interventions to reduce harmful drinking patterns and associated consequences. the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (B-YAACQ) could be particularly useful as a screening tool in university settings. Objectives. The present study examined the utility of the B-YAACQ to distinguish among students at-risk for problematic alcohol use as measured by the AUDIT. Objectives: The present study examined the utility of the B-YAACQ to distinguish among students at-risk for problematic alcohol use as measured by the AUDIT. Methods: A sample of 6382 students (mean age=20.28, SD=3.75, 72.2% females) from seven countries (i.e., U.S., Canada, South-Africa, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, England) completed the B-YAACQ, the AUDIT and different measures of alcohol use. Results: ROC analyses suggested that a cutoff score of 5 maximized the YAACQ's discrimination utility to differentiate between students at low versus moderate/high risk in the total sample and across countries (except in Canada, where the cutoff was 4). In addition, a cutoff of 7 differentiated between students at low/moderate versus high risk in the total sample, while cutoffs of 10, 9, 8 and 7 differentiate between students at low/moderate versus high risk in Uruguay, U.S and Spain (10), Argentina (9), England (8), and Canada and South-Africa (7), respectively. Students classified at the three risk levels (i.e., low, moderate and high) differed in age (i.e., a younger age was associated with higher risk) and drinking patters (i.e., higher drinking frequency, quantity, binge drinking and AUDIT and B-YAACQ scores in the higher risk groups). Conclusions: This study suggest that the B-YAACQ is a useful tool to identify college students at-risk for experiencing problematic patterns of alcohol use.

Longitudinal changes in depression and anxiety during COVID-19 crisis in Uruguay.

Longitudinal studies have reported decreased mental health symptoms throughout the COVID-19 crisis, while others have found improvements or no changes across time. However, most research was carried out in developed countries, with a high incidence of COVID-19 and, in several cases, mandatory lockdowns. Considering that Uruguay (a developing country) had a low COVID-19 incidence at the moment of this study and has implemented a mild lockdown, we aimed to evaluate the effect of time and mobility (using Google mobility data) on symptoms of anxiety and depression. A longitudinal panel study with six repeated measures was carried out to evaluate depressive (BDI-II) and anxiety (STAI-S) symptoms during the pandemic. A decline in symptoms of anxiety and depression was found across time. Interestingly, this effect was modulated by age; a greater difference in the symptomatology between age groups was found at the beginning of the measurements than at the end, with the youngest reporting the most severe symptoms. Finally, we found that depressive symptoms decreased as mobility increased. Overall, our findings indicate an improvement in mental health as quarantine passed and mobility increased but following a different pattern depending on age. Monitoring these trajectories is imperative moving forward, especially in vulnerable groups. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03460-w.

Change in Psychoactive Substance Consumption in Relation to Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Uruguay.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse how the health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic affected psychoactive substance consumption in Uruguay. Methods: An online survey was answered by 1,916 Uruguayan citizens between March and April 2020 regarding psychoactive substance use before and after the instauration of a recommended quarantine, increases in frequency and volume of use (during the quarantine) of the psychoactive substance they reported as having consumed the most in the year prior to the quarantine and psychological distress experienced during the last month. Results: The main substances consumed during the quarantine were alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and psychopharmaceuticals. Approximately 28% of respondents increased the volume (and 17.7%, the frequency) of use of the substance they had consumed the most the year before the instauration of the quarantine. Moreover, 5.7% initiated the consumption of a new psychoactive substance during the quarantine, mostly marijuana and psychopharmaceuticals. Psychological distress was significantly higher among women, participants under 30 and among those that increased the volume of their most or second preferred psychoactive substance. The group reporting an increase in the volume of use exhibited greater psychological distress. Conclusion: These results indicate an association between the instauration of the recommended quarantine in Uruguay and greater psychoactive substance use during the period as well as an association between increased psychoactive substance use during this period and levels of psychological stress. These results are relevant in terms of public health and policies.

Central Alteration in Peripheral Neuropathy of Trembler-J Mice: Hippocampal pmp22 Expression and Behavioral Profile in Anxiety Tests.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) type 1 disease is the most common human hereditary demyelinating neuropathy. Mutations in pmp22 cause about 70% of all CMT1. Trembler-J (TrJ/+) mice are an animal model of CMT1E, having the same spontaneous pmp22 mutation that is found in humans. We compared the behavior profile of TrJ/+ and +/+ (wild-type) in open-field and elevated-plus-maze anxiety tests. In these tests, TrJ/+ showed an exclusive head shake movement, a lower frequency of rearing, but a greater frequency of grooming. In elevated-plus-maze, TrJ/+ defecate more frequently, performed fewer total entries, and have fewer entries to closed arms. These hippocampus-associated behaviors in TrJ/+ are consistent with increased anxiety levels. The expression of pmp22 and soluble PMP22 were evaluated in E17-hippocampal neurons and adult hippocampus by in situ hybridization and successive immunohistochemistry. Likewise, the expression of pmp22 was confirmed by RT-qPCR in the entire isolated hippocampi of both genotypes. Moreover, the presence of aggregated PMP22 was evidenced in unmasked granular hippocampal adult neurons and shows genotypic differences. We showed for the first time a behavior profile trait associated with anxiety and a differential expression of pmp22/PMP22 in hippocampal neurons of TrJ/+ and +/+ mice, demonstrating the involvement at the central level in an animal model of peripheral neuropathy (CMT1E).

The Development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Practice, Research, and Future Directions in Latin America.

Although Latin America countries are similar in many aspects, psychology has evolved in different ways, according to the characteristics related to politics, economics, and culture of each country. This is the context in which CBT has spread through the region since the 1980s. This article aims to offer a brief historical overview of CBT development in Latin America and the challenges of its current practice. The inclusion of CBT in undergraduate and graduate studies of psychology, the therapists training programs, cultural challenges, and the CBT ​​research were discussed in this paper. All things considered, the main challenge of CBT in Latin America is to constantly reaffirm the scientific foundations of the theory and to continue to work in the scientific production of knowledge and its dissemination.

Calcium triggers the dissociation of myosin-Va from ribosomes in ribonucleoprotein complexes.

The sorting of RNAs to specific regions of the cell for local translation represents an important mechanism directing protein distribution and cell compartmentalization. While significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying the transport and localization of mRNAs, the mechanisms governing ribosome mobilization are less well understood. Ribosomes present in the cytoplasm of multiple cell types can form ribonucleoprotein complexes that also contain myosin-Va (Myo5a), a processive, actin-dependent molecular motor. Here, we report that Myo5a can be disassociated from ribosomes when ribonucleoprotein complexes are exposed to calcium, both in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that Myo5a may act as a molecular switch able to anchor or release ribosomes from the actin cytoskeleton in response to intracellular signaling.

Consequences of alcohol use, and its association with psychological distress, sensitivity to emotional contagion and age of onset of alcohol use, in Uruguayan youth with or without college degree.

Psychological distress can promote alcohol consumption during emerging adulthood. Still unknown is, however, how predisposition to emotional contagion alters psychological distress, and how these phenomena are affected by level of education. The present study analyzed the effect of psychological distress, age of first contact with alcohol (early, late), and predisposition to emotional contagion on alcohol-induced negative consequences and on the volume of alcohol consumed during the last year. We also described alcohol-use behaviors as a function of sex, maximum level of education and age of first contact with alcohol, in 1505 youth from Uruguay (18-30 years). A survey measured alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and ad-hoc questionnaire), negative consequences of alcohol use [young adult alcohol consequences questionnaire (YAACQ)], psychological distress (Kessler scale) and proclivity to emotional contagion (Doherty Emotional contagion scale). The patterns of alcohol use were greater in men vs. women and in those featuring an early age of first alcohol use, yet similar in college and non-college graduates. Early drinkers had greater levels of psychological distress than late-onset drinkers. There was a significant bivariate and multiple correlation between psychological distress and the number of negative consequences of alcohol experienced during the last year, which remained significant even after controlling for total volume of alcohol consumed. Significant associations emerged between YAACQ scores and frequency of heavy episodic or binge drinking, and between psychological distress and emotional contagion, but not between emotional contagion and any of the remaining variables. Psychological distress was not significantly correlated with heavy episodic or binge drinking. The study indicates that, during adolescence and youth, psychological distress is associated with experiencing negative consequences of alcohol consumption. The study also suggested that greater levels of psychological distress may underlie the facilitating effect of an early age of drinking onset upon alcohol drinking patterns.

La reserpina aumenta la expresión de BDNF y PCNA, y disminuye la de caspasa-3, en células intersticiales (células de Leydig) de ratas / Reserpine increases BDNF and PCNA expression, but decreases caspase-3, in rat interstitial cells (Leydig cells)

La reserpina es un antipsicótico e hipotensor arterial que reduce significativamente los niveles de monoaminas centrales, y también es utilizada para modelar los cuadros depresivos humanos en animales de laboratorio. Este trabajo estudió, en ratas Wistar machos adolescentes, cómo la reserpina afecta indicadores moleculares de la función testicular, la cual se ha visto alterada en humanos deprimidos. Una semana luego de finalizado el tratamiento con reserpina (4 dosis de 0,0 o 1,0 mg/Kg, cada 2 días) la respuesta ansiosa y depresiva fue evaluada en un laberinto en cruz elevado. Posteriormente, se sacrificaron los animales y disecaron los testículos, los cuales fueron fijados e incluidos en bloques de parafina de donde se obtuvieron cortes histológicos de 6 µm de espesor. Estos se utilizaron para medir el diámetro de los túbulos seminíferos y para medir por inmunohistoquímica el porcentaje de células intersticiales (células de Leydig) positivas a (1) Factor neurotrófico derivado del cerebro, (2) antígeno nuclear de células en proliferación (BDNF y PCNA, respectivamente, por sus siglas en inglés), y a (3) caspasa-3. Se obtuvo también un índice de positividad al receptor de andrógenos en las células intersticiales. La expresión del receptor de andrógeno fue evaluada utilizando una escala semicuantitativa de escores (0, 1, 2 y 3) y el resto de las moléculas por presencia o ausencia de expresión de cada antígeno investigado en 300 células por preparado. Los resultados comportamentales indicaron alteraciones en la respuesta de ansiedad y una significativa depresión motora (e.g., mayor latencia en conductas de escape del sector blanco) en los animales tratados con reserpina. No se observaron diferencias en los diámetros de los túbulos seminíferos ni en la expresión del receptor de andrógeno, mientras que sí se encontró mayor proporción de células intersticiales positivas a BDNF y PCNA, y menor proporción de células positivas a caspasa-3, en los animales tratados. Los resultados corroboran la capacidad de la reserpina para reproducir rasgos comportamentales de la depresión. La administración de la droga, sin embargo, no parece reproducir a nivel testicular los efectos deletéreos encontrados en humanos deprimidos, e incluso los resultados sugieren que la reserpina puede mejorar algunos aspectos de la funcionalidad testicular relacionadas con la actividad de las células intersticiales en ratas.

Reserpine, a drug that depletes central monoamines, has been used as an antipsychotic and arterial hypotensive, and to model depression in animals. The present study analyzed, in adolescent male rats, the effects of chronic reserpine treatment on molecular indexes of testicular function. A week after termination of the treatment (4 doses of 0,0 or 1,0 mg/Kg/every 48 h) the animals were tested for anxiety response and depression patterns in an elevated plus maze. They were then euthanized, their testes dissected, fixed and embedded in paraffin to obtain blocks. Histological sections (6 µm) were obtained and used to measure the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the expression in Leydig cells of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Caspase-3 and androgen receptors, by immunohistochemistry. Behavioral results indicated significant alterations in anxiety responses and a significant motor depression (e.g., greater latency to escape from the white sector). There were no differences between groups in the diameter of seminiferous tubules nor in the androgen receptors positivity. Reserpine-treated animals, however, exhibited more BDNF and PCNA positive cells, and less positive Caspase-3 cells in Leydig cells, than control animals. The results corroborate the efficacy of reserpine to reproduce some of the behavioral components of depression. The drug, however, does not seem to exert in rats the same effects on testicular function that have been found in humans diagnosed with depression. Furthermore the drug seems to enhance some aspects of testicular function related to Leydig cells function in rats.

Amphetamine, but not methylphenidate, increases ethanol intake in adolescent male, but not in female, rats.

Introduction: There has been an increasing interest in analyzing the interactions between stimulants and ethanol during childhood and adolescence. Stimulants are used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in these developmental stages, during which ethanol initiation and escalation often occur. Methods: This study assessed the effects of repeated d-amphetamine (AMPH) or methylphenidate (MPH) treatment during adolescence [male and female Wistar rats, between postnatal day (PD) 28 to PD34, approximately] on the initiation of ethanol intake during a later section of adolescence (PD35 to PD40). Results: Amphetamine and MPH exerted reliable acute motor stimulant effects, but there was no indication of sensitized motor or anxiety responses. MPH did not affect dopamine (DA) levels, whereas AMPH significantly reduced insular levels of DA in both sexes and norepinephrine levels in females only. Repeated treatment with AMPH, but not with MPH, enhanced ethanol intake during late adolescence in male, but not in female, rats. Conclusion: A short treatment with AMPH during adolescence significantly altered DA levels in the insula, both in male and females, and significantly enhanced ethanol intake in males. The present results suggest that, in adolescent males, a very brief history of AMPH exposure can facilitate the initiation of ethanol intake.

Reserpine-induced depression is associated in female, but not in male, adolescent rats with heightened, fluoxetine-sensitive, ethanol consumption.

Depression usually emerges during adolescence, is significantly more frequent in women, and exhibits comorbidity with alcohol (ethanol) use disorders. Most of the pre-clinical studies assessing the link between depression and ethanol intake, however, have employed only males or relied on stress-induced depression, or induced the experimentally-induced, depressive-like phenotype, during adolescence yet measured ethanol intake at adulthood. This study assessed, in Wistar male and female adolescent rats, the effects of inducing experimental depression (via administration of 1.0 mg/kg reserpine [RES], a monoamine depleting drug, between postnatal day [PD] 30 to PD33) on the acquisition of voluntary ethanol drinking during PD38 to PD42), and the modulation of these effects by fluoxetine (FLUOX, 10.0 mg/kg) on PDs 34-37. RES-treated rats exhibited a significant reduction of dopamine levels at the insula, no significant changes in circulating levels of thyroxine T4, and reduced distance travelled in an open field. Repeated treatment with RES heightened ethanol intake in female, but not in male, rats; and effect that was inhibited by FLUOX. Similarly, RES significantly increased, and FLUOX reversed, risk-taking behaviors in a concentric square field (CSF) test. FLUOX significantly increased shelter-seeking in the CSF and reduced insular dopamine levels. These results indicate that depression, in females, can kindle the initiation of voluntary ethanol drinking in adolescence (one of the most reliable predictors of being diagnosed with an AUD), and pinpoint alterations in risk-taking as potential mechanisms underlying this effect. Adolescent women afflicted by mood disorders should be specifically targeted for interventions directed towards delaying initiation of alcohol consumption.

Consumo de alcohol en ratas adolescentes tratadas con reserpina y fluoxetina / Alcohol consumption in adolescent rats treated with reserpine and fluoxetine

RESUMEN Si bien se ha estudiado el vínculo entre los trastornos de estado de ánimo y el consumo de alcohol, tanto en humanos como en animales, todavía no es del todo claro cómo se da esta relación, y menos aún durante la adolescencia. La administración de reserpina, un depletor de monoaminas, es un modelo ampliamente utilizado en roedores adultos para inducir comportamientos asociados a depresión, pero se desconoce su utilidad en otras etapas del desarrollo. En este trabajo validamos este modelo en ratas adolescentes y posteriormente estudiamos el consumo de alcohol en estos animales, así como su modulación por antidepresivos. En el experimento 1 se administró reserpina (0.0 o 1.0 mg/kg, durante 4 días, IP) a ratas Wistar machos de 30 días. El consumo de alcohol fue evaluado luego de observar comportamientos asociados a depresión e indagar indicadores neuroendocrinos de esta patología. En el experimento 2 los animales recibieron reserpina, seguida por el antidepresivo fluoxetina (0.0 o 10.0 mg/kg, durante 4 días, IG), y luego se evaluó el consumo de alcohol. Los resultados mostraron que la reserpina aumentó significativamente los comportamientos asociados a depresión y alteró los niveles de dopamina en la corteza insular y de hormonas tiroideas en sangre. En la prueba de consumo de alcohol los animales deprimidos, pero no los controles, mostraron un incremento en el consumo a través de los días. El segundo experimento replicó parcialmente este perfil, y no se observó un efecto significativo del antidepresivo en el consumo de alcohol. Los resultados indican que la reserpina es útil para modelar en ratas adolescentes comportamientos asociados a depresión. Se encontró una relación entre este estado y el consumo de alcohol, que no se pudo revertir con antidepresivos.

ABSTRACT The relationship between mood disorders and alcohol consumption has been studied in humans and animals, although it is still not fully clear how this relationship unfolds, much less during adolescence. The administration of reserpine -a monoamine depletor- is an approach traditionally used in adult rodents to induce depression-associated behaviours, but its usefulness in other developmental stages is still unknown. In this study, this model was evaluated in adolescent rats in order to study alcohol consumption, as well as its modulation by antidepressants in these animals. In Experiment 1, 30 day-old male Wistar rats were treated with reserpine (0.0 or 1.0 mg/kg, for4 days, IP). Alcohol consumption was tested after observing depression-associated behaviours and assessing neuroendocrine indicators of this pathology. In Experiment 2, the rats were administered reserpine followed by an antidepressant (fluoxetine, 0.0 or 10.0 mg/kg, for 4 days, IG). Alcohol consumption was then tested. The results showed that reserpine significantly increased depression-associated behaviours and altered insular dopamine and thyroid hormone levels. Alcohol consumption tests showed that reserpine-treated animals -but not control animals- increased their consumption throughout the days. The second experiment partially replicated this profile, and no significant effect of antidepressants was observed in alcohol consumption. The results show that reserpine is instrumental in modelling depression-associated behaviours in adolescent rats. A relationship was found between this condition and alcohol intake, which could not be reversed by antidepressants.

Early phenotypical diagnoses in Trembler-J mice model.

Pmp-22 mutant mice (Trembler-J: B6.D2-Pmp22/J), are used as a model to study Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A). The identification of individual genotypes is a routine in the management of the Tr(J) colony. The earliest phenotypic manifestation of the pmp-22 mutation is just about 20th postnatal days, when pups begin to tremble. In this study, a rapid and simple diagnostic method was developed by modifying the Tail Suspension Test (MTST) to determine the difference between the Tr(J) and the wild-type mice phenotype. The animal behavioral phenotypes generated during the test were consistent with the specific genotype of each animal. The MTST allowed us to infer the heterozygous genotype in early postnatal stages, at 11 days after birth. The motor impairment of Tr(J) mice was also analyzed by a Fixed Bar Test (FBT), which revealed the disease evolution according to age. The main advantages of MTST are its objectivity, simplicity, and from the viewpoint of animal welfare, it is a non-invasive technique that combined with his rapidity show its very well applicability for use from an early age in these mice.