Psychometric properties and convergent and divergent validity of the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (P-YFAS 2.0).

PURPOSE: The construct of food addiction has been gaining increased attention as a research topic. Currently, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 is the only measure to operationalize the addictive-like eating behavior according to addiction criteria proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The present study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, as well as investigating the convergent and divergent validity between this scale and the following measures: Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Body Investment Scale, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. We also sought to explore the moderator role of difficulties in emotion regulation in the relationship between food addiction and binge eating METHODS: A sample of 302 female college students (Mage = 21.37, SD = 3.24) completed self-report measures. RESULTS: Sixteen (5.3%) participants were diagnosed as having food addiction. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the original one-dimensional structure is adequate to represent the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. The symptom count scores of the scale were correlated with body mass index, eating disordered behavior, body investment, and difficulties in emotion regulation. The severity level of the scale also discriminated the severity of eating disordered behaviors, body investment, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Finally, the relationship between food addiction and binge eating was moderated by difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when experiencing negative emotions. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Questionnaire 2.0 may be a useful tool to investigate food addiction. LEVEL: IV descriptive studies.

Binucleating Hydrazonic Ligands and Their µ-Hydroxodicopper(II) Complexes as Promising Structural Motifs for Enhanced Antitumor Activity.

Very few inorganic antineoplastic drugs have entered the clinic in the last decades, mainly because of toxicity issues. Because copper is an essential trace element of ubiquitous occurrence, decreased side effects could be expected in comparison with the widely used platinum anticancer compounds. In the present work, two novel hydrazonic binucleating ligands and their µ-hydroxo dicopper(II) complexes were prepared and fully characterized. They differ by the nature of the aromatic group present in their aroylhydrazone moieties: while H3L1 and its complex, 1, possess a thiophene ring, H3L2 and 2 contain the more polar furan heterocycle. X-ray diffraction indicates that both coordination compounds are very similar in structural terms and generate dimeric arrangements in the solid state. Positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses confirmed that the main species present in a 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water solution should be [Cu2(HL)(OH)]+ and the DMSO-substituted derivative [Cu2(L)(DMSO)]+. Scattering techniques [dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering] suggest that the complexes and their free ligands interact with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a reversible manner. The binding constants to BSA were determined for the complexes through fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, to gain insight into the mechanism of action of the compounds, calf thymus DNA binding studies by UV-visible and DLS measurements using plasmid pBR322 DNA were also performed. For the complexes, DLS data seem to point to the occurrence of DNA cleavage to Form III (linear). Both ligands and their dicopper(II) complexes display potent antiproliferative activity in a panel of four cancer cell lines, occasionally even in the submicromolar range, with the complexes being more potent than the free ligands. Our data on cellular models correlate quite well with the DNA interaction experiments. The results presented herein show that aroylhydrazone-derived binucleating ligands, as well as their dinuclear µ-hydroxodicopper(II) complexes, may represent a promising structural starting point for the development of a new generation of highly active potential antitumor agents.

Bio-Based Composites for Light Automotive Parts: Statistical Analysis of Mechanical Properties; Effect of Matrix and Alkali Treatment in Sisal Fibers.

Composites based on virgin and recycled polypropylene (PP and rPP) reinforced with 15 wt% sisal fibers, with and without alkali treatment, were prepared by compression molding in a mat composed of a three-layer sandwich structure. The sisal was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The composites were characterized according to physical and mechanical properties. Additionally, a factorial experimental design was used to statistically evaluate the mechanical properties of the composite. The FTIR and XRD indicated the partial removal of amorphous materials from the surface of the sisal after alkali treatment. The composites' density results varied from 0.892 to 0.927 g·cm-3, which was in the desirable range for producing lightweight automotive components. A slight decrease in the hardness of the pure rPP and rPP composites in relation to the PP was observed. The water absorption was higher in rPP composites, regardless of the chemical treatment. Moreover, the impact resistance of PP and its composites was higher than the values for rPP. Statistical analysis showed that the alkali treatment was a significant factor for the hardness of the rPP and PP composites, and that the addition of the sisal layer was relevant to improve the impact resistance of the composites.

Sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway is crucial for growth, biofilm formation and membrane integrity of Scedosporium boydii.

Aim: Glycosphingolipids are conserved lipids displaying a variety of functions in fungal cells, such as determination of cell polarity and virulence. They have been considered as potent targets for new antifungal drugs. The present work aimed to test two inhibitors, myriocin and DL-threo-1-Phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, in Scedosporium boydii, a pathogenic fungus which causes a wide range of disease. Materials & methods: Mass spectrometry, microscopy and cell biology approaches showed that treatment with both inhibitors led to defects in fungal growth and membrane integrity, and caused an increased susceptibility to the current antifungal agents. Conclusion: These data demonstrate the antifungal potential of drugs inhibiting sphingolipid biosynthesis, as well as the usefulness of sphingolipids as promising targets for the development of new therapeutic options.

Triagem neonatal e hemoglobinopatias em Santa Catarina, Brasil / Neonatal screening and hemoglobinopathies of Santa Catarina, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho, foi, avaliar a incidencia das hemoglobinopatias em recem-nascidos no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, no periodo de novembro de 2001 a julho de 2007. Os dados das hemoglobinas variantes foram fornecidos pelo LaboratorioCentral de Santa Catarina – LACEN - SC, Brasil, o qual representa o Laboratorio de Referencia credenciado pelo Sistema Unico de Saude - SUS para a triagem neonatal neste Estado. O numero total de nascimentos no periodo avaliado foi obtido atraves de dados do Sistema de Informacoes sobre Nascimentos – SINASC, disponibilizados pela Secretaria Estadual da Saude de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Essas amostras foram submetidas a cromatografia liquida de alta performance (HPLC) e os resultados alterados confirmados por eletroforese. Do total das 441.000 amostras analisadas, em 4345 (0,98%) verificou-se algum tipo de alteracao. A hemoglobina S foi detectada em 0,82%, hemoglobina C foi observada em 0,12% e, a Hemoglobina D foi caracterizada em 0,03%. Destas em 28 amostras(0,64% das amostras alteradas) foram observadas a presenca de doenca (homozigose). As outras hemoglobinas variantes, 4317 (99,35% das amostras alteradas) foram caracterizadas pela presenca de tracos. Os dados encontrados estao abaixo do estimado pelo Ministerio da Saude o que pode ser explicado pela descendencia europeia da populacao catarinense. Observando esta descendencia da populacao seria de grande interesse o rastreamento das talassemias ja que os heterozigotos para talassemia beta perfazem 1-6%dos euro-descendentes do Sul - Brasil e Sudeste - Brasil.

The objective of this work, was, assessing the impact of hemoglobinopathies in neonates in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in the period November 2001 to July 2007. Data for hemoglobin variants were provided by the Central Laboratory of Santa Catarina - LACEN-SC, Brazil, which represents the Reference Laboratory accredited by the Single Health System SUS-for neonatal screening in this state. The total number of births in the period measured data was obtained through the System Information Births - SINASC, provided by the State Secretariat of Health of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These samples were subjected to net high-performancechromatography (HPLC) and the results changed confirmed by electrophoresis. Of the total of 441.000 samples tested in 4345 (0.98%) there was some kind of change. The hemoglobin S was detected at 0.82%, hemoglobin C was observed in 0.12%, and Hemoglobin Dwas characterized at 0.03%. Of these, 28 samples (0.64% of the samples changed) were observed the presence of disease (homozigose). The other hemoglobinas variants, 4.317 (99.35% of the samples changed) were characterized by the presence of traces. The data are found below the estimated by the Ministry of Health which can be explained by the descendants of the European population catarinense.Noting that descendants of the population would be of great interest crawling of talassemias since the heterozygotes for beta thalassemia make 1-6% of the euro-descendants of South and Southeast Brazil-Brazil.