Magnetized vermiculite as a tool for the treatment of produced water generated by oil companies: Effects on aquatic organisms before and after treatment.

Produced water (PW) generated by oil companies is a highly impacting waste that contains chemicals such as metals and organic and inorganic compounds. Given its polluting potential, PW requires effective treatment before being discharged into the environment. Conventional treatments have limited efficiency in removing PW toxicity, so alternative approaches must be developed and standardized. In this context, treatment with adsorbent materials like magnetized vermiculite (VMT-mag) is highlighted. This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of treatment with VMT-mag in reducing PW toxicity to aquatic biota. For this purpose, three aquatic species (the midge Chironomus riparius, the planarian Girardia tigrina, and the crustacean Daphnia magna) were exposed to untreated PW and to PW treated with VMT-mag at laboratory conditions. The assessed endpoints included mortality, growth, emergence, and developmental time of C. riparius; mortality, locomotion, feeding, and head regeneration of G. tigrina; and intrinsic population growth rate (r) and reproductive output of D. magna. The results showed that all the species exposed to raw PW were impaired: C. riparius had delayed development, G. tigrina had reduced locomotor activity and delayed head regeneration, and D. magna had reduced reproduction and delayed intrinsic population growth rate (r). Most of the analyzed parameters showed that treatment with VMT-mag diminished PW toxicity. Therefore, using VMT-mag to treat PW may be the key to reducing the PW effects on aquatic organisms.

Fine cassava fibre utilization as a dietary fibre source for dogs: Effects on kibble characteristics, diet digestibility and palatability, faecal metabolites and microbiota.

The objective was to evaluate through three experiments the effects of a fine cassava fibre (CA: 106 µm) on kibble characteristics, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of macronutrients, diet palatability and faecal metabolites and microbiota of dogs. Dietary treatments consisted of a control diet (CO), without an added fibre source and with 4.3% total dietary fibre (TDF), and a diet with 9.6% CA (106 µm), with 8.4% TDF. Experiment I evaluated the physical characteristics of the kibbles. The palatability test was evaluated in experiment II, which compared the diets CO versus CA. In experiment III, 12 adult dogs were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments for 15 days, totalling six replicates/treatment, to assess the CTTAD of macronutrients; faecal characteristics, faecal metabolites and microbiota. The expansion index, kibble size and friability of diets with CA were higher than the CO (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CA diet presented higher palatability than the CO (p < 0.05) but did not affect CTTAD except for those of fibre (p > 0.05). Moreover, a greater faecal concentration of acetate, butyrate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and a lower faecal concentration of phenol, indole and isobutyrate were observed in dogs fed the CA diet (p < 0.05). Dogs fed with the CA diet presented a greater bacterial diversity and richness and a greater abundance of genera considered to be beneficial for gut health, such as Blautia, Faecalibacterium and Fusobacterium when compared to the CO group (p < 0.05). The inclusion of 9.6% of a fine CA improves the expansion of kibbles and diet palatability without affecting most of the CTTAD of nutrients. Besides, it improves the production of some SCFA and modulates the faecal microbiota of dogs.

Evaluation of postprandial glycemic response in rats (Wistar) fed with different starch sources.

The consumption of readily digestible starch sources, such as corn, can negatively impact endocrine disorders related to hyperglycaemia in predisposing animals. In this sense, starch sources containing slowly digestible and resistant fractions can assist glycemic control. The present study analyzed the postprandial glycemic response and blood variables of rats fed with four extruded diets containing corn, brown rice, sweet potato and pea as the main starch source. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (90 days old) were divided into groups of eight animals each. The rats received one of the experimental diets for 30 days according to a completely randomised design. The glycemia was measured on the 29th and 30th days. The glycemia measured on the 29th day was analyzed at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after oral administration of 50% glucose solution. On the 30th day, the same protocol was repeated after providing 3 g of the experimental diet for each animal to obtain the glycemic curve. After the euthanasia on the 30th day, 7 ml of blood was collected via cardiac puncture for glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c), triglycerides, cholesterol, and aspartate and alanine aminotransferases analysis. Diets with pea and sweet potato provided lower glycemic index, average and maximum glycemia, and glycemic increment in relation to the other starch sources (p < 0.05). Animals fed with the corn diet had higher serum concentrations of triglycerides and HBA1c than the other treatments (p < 0.05). Results demonstrated that pea and sweet potato are interesting starch sources for the control of metabolic disorders related to glycemia.

Neck Strength Evaluated With Fixed and Portable Dynamometers in Asymptomatic Individuals: Correlation, Concurrent Validity, and Agreement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation, concurrent validity, and agreement between the isometric cervical force measurements obtained with fixed and portable dynamometers in asymptomatic individuals. METHODS: Fifty asymptomatic individuals performed 3 maximal isometric contractions for flexion, extension, and lateral flexion of the cervical spine using fixed and portable dynamometers. The correlation and concurrent validity for the measurements of the portable and fixed dynamometers were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The agreement between the force values of the portable and fixed dynamometers was measured using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: Isometric cervical force measurements obtained with the fixed dynamometer and portable dynamometer showed a moderately to highly significant correlation for flexion (rs = 0.74), extension (rs = 0.82), right lateral flexion (rs = 0.74), and left lateral flexion (rs = 0.68). The concurrent validity was moderate to good for all measurements (ICC2,3 = 0.67-0.80). The fixed and portable dynamometers did not agree, with a significant mean difference between the methods of 2.8 kgf (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-3.4 kgf) for cervical flexion, 5.3 kgf (95% CI, 4.2-6.4 kgf) for extension, and 9.1 kgf (95% CI, 0.4-2.1 kgf) for left lateral flexion. The limits of agreement were broad for all movements, with errors that varied between 61% and 77% of the mean force obtained with the fixed dynamometer. CONCLUSION: The neck strength measurements obtained with the fixed and portable dynamometers demonstrated high to moderate correlation and had moderate to good comparability for asymptomatic participants. However, they did not agree in that the 2 methods did not provide equivalent measurements, and, therefore, based on these findings, the same equipment should always be used when reassessing an individual.

Evidence for an interrelated cluster of Hallucinatory experiences in the general population: an incidence study.

BACKGROUND: Although hallucinations have been studied in terms of prevalence and its associations with psychopathology and functional impairment, very little is known about sensory modalities other than auditory (i.e. haptic, visual and olfactory), as well the incidence of hallucinations, factors predicting incidence and subsequent course. METHODS: We examined the incidence, course and risk factors of hallucinatory experiences across different modalities in two unique prospective general population cohorts in the same country using similar methodology and with three interview waves, one over the period 1996-1999 (NEMESIS) and one over the period 2007-2015 (NEMESIS-2). RESULTS: In NEMESIS-2, the yearly incidence of self-reported visual hallucinations was highest (0.33%), followed by haptic hallucinations (0.31%), auditory hallucinations (0.26%) and olfactory hallucinations (0.23%). Rates in NEMESIS-1 were similar (respectively: 0.35%, 0.26%, 0.23%, 0.22%). The incidence of clinician-confirmed hallucinations was approximately 60% of the self-reported rate. The persistence rate of incident hallucinations was around 20-30%, increasing to 40-50% for prevalent hallucinations. Incident hallucinations in one modality were very strongly associated with occurrence in another modality (median OR = 59) and all modalities were strongly associated with delusional ideation (median OR = 21). Modalities were approximately equally strongly associated with the presence of any mental disorder (median OR = 4), functioning, indicators of help-seeking and established environmental risk factors for psychotic disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Hallucinations across different modalities are a clinically relevant feature of non-psychotic disorders and need to be studied in relation to each other and in relation to delusional ideation, as all appear to have a common underlying mechanism.

Effects of two dietary fiber levels on nutrient digestibility and intestinal fermentation products in captive brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba).

Herbivorous primates present a selective consumption profile and morphological adaptations to use the fibrous fraction of their diets. Brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba) are generalist herbivores; however, when kept under human care, they usually receive diets rich in fruits and with insufficient amounts of fiber. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in howlers on apparent total tract digestibility coefficients (ATTDC), fecal consistency, and intestinal fermentation products. A group of 26 adult howler monkeys, 13 males and 13 females, were fed two diets formulated to have 33% or 40% NDF for 11 days, according to a randomized block design (N = 26). The block factor was the enclosures with one, two, or three individuals (each enclosure corresponded to an experimental unit), totaling in eight replicates per treatment. There were no differences in dry matter and nutrients intake between treatments (p > 0.05). The diet with 33% NDF resulted in higher (p < 0.05) ATTDC of crude protein and crude energy. However, lower fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and dry matter were observed in the treatment with 33% NDF in contrast to the 40% NDF group (p < 0.05). We recommend the inclusion of higher fiber levels (40% NDF) in the diet of howler monkeys since there is evidence of greater production of SCFA and improvement in fecal consistency.

Growth regulation of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) with glyphosate.

Glyphosate can generate positive effects on turfgrass maintenance as a form of growth control by decreasing the expenses associated with mowing. However, there is little information about the effects of this herbicide on turfgrasses. This study aimed to evaluate the response of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass to the herbicide glyphosate as a growth regulator. Two studies were performed in a greenhouse and repeated at different times. The treatments involved application of glyphosate at 10 different rates (0, 5.625, 11.25, 22.5, 45, 90, 180, 360, 720, and 1.440 g ae ha-1) with four replicates. Evaluations of green cover by digital analysis, injury, and plant height were performed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after application, and shoot dry matter of clippings was determined for the last evaluation period. Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass presented variedtolerance to glyphosate toxicity. Overall, the digital analysis showed that green content was negatively influenced by the increase in visual injury caused by glyphosate application. Moreover, increasing the glyphosate rate decreased plant height and shoot dry matter in both turfgrasses. Glyphosate application rates up to 45 g ae ha-1 for bermudagrass and 90 g ae ha-1 for zoysiagrass decreased plant growth without affecting the factors analyzed in this study.

Airway Resistance and Respiratory Compliance in Children with Acute Viral Bronchiolitis Requiring Mechanical Ventilation Support.

BACKGROUND: Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) is a very frequent disease that affects the lower airways of young children increasing the inspiratory and expiratory resistance in variable degree as well as reducing the pulmonary compliance. It would be desirable to know whether these variables are associated with the outcome. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the respiratory mechanics in infants with AVB requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) support and to evaluate if respiratory mechanics predict outcomes in children with AVB supported on MV. To evaluate the respiratory mechanics in infants with AVB submitted to MV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in two pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) between February 2016 and March 2017. Included were infants (1 month to 1 year old) admitted with AVB and requiring MV for >48 hours. Auto-PEEP, dynamic compliance (Cdyn), static compliance (Cstat), expiratory resistance (ExRes), and inspiratory resistance (InRes) were evaluated once daily on the second and third day of MV. RESULTS: A total of 64 infants (median age of 2.8 months and a mean weight of 4.8 ± 1.7 kg) were evaluated. A mean positive inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 31.5 ± 5.2 cmH2O, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5.5 ± 1.4 cmH2O, resulting in a mean airway pressure (MAP) of 12.5 ± 2.2 cmH2O and delta pressure of 22.5 ± 4.4 cmH2O without difference between the two hospitals. Measurements of respiratory mechanics showed high values of InRes and ExRes (median 142 [IQ25-75 106-180] cmH2O/L/s and 158 [IQ25-75 130-195.3] cmH2O/L/s, respectively), accompanied by decreased Cdyn and Cstat (0.46 ± 0.19 and 0.81 ± 0.25 mL/kg/cmH2O, respectively). None of the variables was associated with mortality, length of MV, or length of PICU stay. CONCLUSION: Infants with AVB requiring MV support present very high InRes and ExRes values. These findings might be the reason for the aggressive ventilatory parameters, especially PIP, required to ventilate this group of children with lower airway obstruction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Monitoring respiratory mechanics could represent a useful tool to guide the ventilatory strategy to be adopted in patients with AVB. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Andreolio C, Piva JP, Bruno F, da Rocha TS, Garcia PCR. Airway Resistance and Respiratory Compliance in Children with Acute Viral Bronchiolitis Requiring Mechanical Ventilation Support. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(1):88-93.

Limitation of nitrogen source facilitated the production of nonmeiotic recombinants in Aspergillus nidulans.

Aspergillus nidulans is a fungal model organism extensively used in genetic approaches. It may reproduce sexually and asexually, with a well-defined parasexual cycle. The current paper demonstrates that the limitation of nitrogen source facilitates the production of A. nidulans's nonmeiotic recombinants directly from heterokaryons, without the recovery of the diploid phase. Heterokaryons formed between master strains were inoculated in sodium nitrate-low (basal medium [BM]) and sodium nitrate-rich media (minimal medium [MM]). All mitotic segregants produced by the heterokaryons were tested for their mitotic stability in the presence of benomyl, the haploidizing agent. Only mitotically stable haploid segregants were selected for subsequent analysis. Phenotypic analyses of such haploids favored the characterization of nonmeiotic recombinants. As the number of such recombinants was higher in BM than in MM, nitrogen limitation may have facilitated the isolation of nonmeiotic recombinants from heterokaryons by stimulating nuclear fusion still inside the heterokaryotic mycelium as a survival strategy.

Sensors Using the Molecular Dynamics of Explosives in Carbon Nanotubes Under External Uniform Electric Fields.

Possessing a simulated sensor device to identify explosives is of extreme interest to the area of public security to fight against terrorism. In light of this, a carbon armchair nanotube was modeled under the action of an external, longitudinal and uniform electric field at an initial temperature of 1 mK simulation, causing the explosive molecules under analysis to rotate through the carbon nanotube, due to an evanescent effect generated from the action of an electric current and magnetic field induced in this system, and thus behaving as a selective temperature sensor and spinning radius for the molecules. For this, molecular dynamics was used to study the physicochemical properties of the molecules' interactions with a carbon nanotube. The following physical properties, as well as the kinetic, potential, and total energy were calculated for the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), triacetone triperoxide (TATP), hexogen (RDX), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), octogen (HMX) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) explosives: thermodynamic conditions such as temperature; entropy variation; and distance between the molecules' center of mass from an armchair type carbon nanotube.

Essential Oils of Hyptis pectinata Chemotypes: Isolation, Binary Mixtures and Acute Toxicity on Leaf-Cutting Ants.

Leaf-cutting ants are pests of great economic importance due to the damage they cause to agricultural and forest crops. The use of organosynthetic insecticides is the main form of control of these insects. In order to develop safer technology, the objective of this work was to evaluate the formicidal activity of the essential oils of two Hyptis pectinata genotypes (chemotypes) and their major compounds on the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex balzani Emery and Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel. Bioassays of exposure pathways (contact and fumigation) and binary mixtures of the major compounds were performed. The major compounds identified in the essential oils of H. pectinata were ß-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide and calamusenone. The essential oils of H. pectinata were toxic to the ants in both exposure pathways. Essential oils were more toxic than their major compounds alone. The chemotype calamusenone was more toxic to A. balzani in both exposure pathways. A. sexdens rubropilosa was more susceptible to the essential oil of the chemotype ß-caryophyllene in both exposure pathways. In general, the binary mixtures of the major compounds resulted in additive effect of toxicity. The essential oils of H. pectinata is a raw material of great potential for the development of new insecticides.

Nitric oxide levels in patients with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Altered serum nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have been reported by different studies; however, results are still controversial. Until this date, no meta-analysis evaluated the association of NO levels with DM. Thus, this paper describes a meta-analysis conducted to evaluate if there is a relationship between NO levels and type 1 DM (T1DM) or type 2 DM (T2DM). METHODS: A literature search was done to identify all studies that investigated NO levels between T1DM or T2DM patients (cases) and non-diabetic subjects (controls). Measurement of nitrate and nitrite (NOx - the stable NO products) were used to estimate NO concentrations because they closely reflect NO bioavailability. Weighted mean differences (WMD) of NOx levels between case and control samples were calculated for T1DM and T2DM groups. RESULTS: Thirty studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis (8 in T1DM samples and 22 in T2DM samples). NOx levels were increased in European T1DM patients compared with controls [random effect model (REM) WMD = 8.55, 95% CI 2.88 - 14.21]. No other ethnicity was evaluated in T1DM studies. NOx levels were also increased in both European (REM WMD = 18.76, 95% CI 1.67 - 35.85) and Asian (REM WMD = 18.41, 95% CI 8.01 - 28.81) T2DM patients, but not in Latin American patients compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis detected a significant increase in NOx levels in European T1DM patients as well as European and Asian T2DM patients. Further studies in other ethnicities are necessary to confirm these data.

Chloroquine-containing organoruthenium complexes are fast-acting multistage antimalarial agents.

We report the pharmacological activity of organoruthenium complexes containing chloroquine (CQ) as a chelating ligand. The complexes displayed intraerythrocytic activity against CQ-sensitive 3D7 and CQ-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum, with potency and selectivity indexes similar to those of CQ. Complexes displayed activity against all intraerythrocytic stages, but moderate activity against Plasmodium berghei liver stages. However, unlike CQ, organoruthenium complexes impaired gametocyte viability and exhibited fast parasiticidal activity against trophozoites for P. falciparum. This functional property results from the ability of complexes to quickly induce oxidative stress. The parasitaemia of P. berghei-infected mice was reduced by treatment with the complex. Our findings demonstrated that using chloroquine for the synthesis of organoruthenium complexes retains potency and selectivity while leading to an increase in the spectrum of action and parasite killing rate relative to CQ.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are associated with psychiatric comorbidities, behavioral and clinical problems: a population-based study of Brazilian school children.

Pediatric-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is underdiagnosed, and many affected children are untreated. The present study seeks to evaluate the presence and the clinical impact of OCD and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in a large sample of school-age children. In Phase I, we performed an initial screening using the Family History Screen (FHS). In Phase II, we identified an "at-risk" sample, as well as a randomly selected group of children. A total of 2,512 children (6-12 years old) were assessed using the FHS, the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Data analyses included descriptive and multivariate analytical techniques. 2,512 children (mean age: 8.86 ± 1.84 years; 55.0% male) were categorized into one of the three diagnostic groups: OCD (n = 77), OCS (n = 488), and unaffected controls (n = 1,947). There were no significant socio-demographic differences (age, gender, socioeconomic status) across groups. The OCS group resembled the OCD on overall impairment, including school problems and delinquent behaviors. However, the OCD group did have significantly higher rates of several comorbid psychiatric disorders, including separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, and major depressive disorder, than OCS or unaffected controls. Moreover, the OCD group also scored higher than the SDQ, as well as on each of CBCL items rated by the parent. Our findings suggest that there is a psychopathological continuum between OCS and OCD in school-aged children. The presence of OCS is associated with functional impairment, which needs further investigation in longitudinal studies.

Descriptive analysis of the masticatory and salivary functions and gustatory sensitivity in healthy children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to better understand salivary and masticatory characteristics, this study evaluated the relationship among salivary parameters, bite force (BF), masticatory performance (MP) and gustatory sensitivity in healthy children. The secondary outcome was to evaluate possible gender differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixteen eutrophic subjects aged 7-11 years old were evaluated, caries-free and with no definite need of orthodontic treatment. Salivary flow rate and pH, total protein (TP), alpha-amylase (AMY), calcium (CA) and phosphate (PHO) concentrations were determined in stimulated (SS) and unstimulated saliva (US). BF and MP were evaluated using digital gnathodynamometer and fractional sieving method, respectively. Gustatory sensitivity was determined by detecting the four primary tastes (sweet, salty, sour and bitter) in three different concentrations. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney/t-test, Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis, considering α = 0.05. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation between taste and age was observed. CA and PHO concentrations correlated negatively with salivary flow and pH; sweet taste scores correlated with AMY concentrations and bitter taste sensitivity correlated with US flow rate (p < 0.05). No significant difference between genders in salivary, masticatory characteristics and gustatory sensitivity was observed. The regression analysis showed a weak relationship between the distribution of chewed particles among the different sieves and BF. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of some analytes was influenced by salivary flow and pH. Age, saliva flow and AMY concentrations influenced gustatory sensitivity. In addition, salivary, masticatory and taste characteristics did not differ between genders, and only a weak relation between MP and BF was observed.

Evaluation of naphthoquinones identified the acetylated isolapachol as a potent and selective antiplasmodium agent.

This study reports on the design, synthesis and antiparasitic activity of three new semi-synthetic naphthoquinones structurally related to the naturally-occurring lapachol and lapachone. Of the compounds tested, 3-(3-methylbut-1-en-1-yl)-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl acetate (1) was the most active against Plasmodium falciparum among both natural and semi-synthetic naphthoquinones, showing potent and selective activity. Compound 1 was able to reduce the in vitro parasite burden, in vitro parasite cell cycle, as well as the blood parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. More importantly, infection reduction under compound 1-treatment was achieved without exhibiting mouse genotoxicity. Regarding the molecular mechanism of action, this compound inhibited the hemozoin crystal formation in P. falciparum treated cells, and this was further confirmed by observing that it inhibits the ß-hematin polymerization process similarly to chloroquine. Interestingly, this compound did not affect either mitochondria structure or cause DNA fragmentation in parasite treated cells. In conclusion, we identified a semi-synthetic antimalarial naphthoquinone closely related to isolapachol, which had stronger antimalarial activity than lapachol.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a training program that builds teachers' capability to identify and appropriately refer middle and high school students with mental health problems in Brazil: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, like many countries, there has been a failure to identify mental health problems (MHP) in young people and refer them to appropriate care and support. The school environment provides an ideal setting to do this. Therefore, effective programs need to be developed to train teachers to identify and appropriately refer children with possible MHP. We aimed to evaluate teachers' ability to identify and appropriately refer students with possible MHP, and the effectiveness of a psychoeducational strategy to build teachers' capability in this area. METHODS: To meet the first objective, we conducted a case-control study using a student sample. To meet the second, we employed longitudinal design with repeated measures before and after introducing the psychoeducational strategy using a teacher sample. In the case control study, the Youth Self-Report was used to investigate internalizing and externalizing problems. Before training, teachers selected 26 students who they thought were likely to have MHP. Twenty-six non-selected students acted as controls and were matched by gender, age and grade. The underlying principle was that if teachers could identify abnormal behaviors among their actual students, those with some MHP would likely be among the case group and those without among the control group. In the longitudinal study, 32 teachers were asked to evaluate six vignettes that highlighted behaviors indicating a high risk for psychosis, depression, conduct disorder, hyperactivity, mania, and normal adolescent behavior. We calculated the rates of correct answers for identifying the existence of some MHP and the need for referral before and after training; teachers were not asked to identify the individual conditions. RESULTS: Teachers were already able to identify the most symptomatic students, who had both internalizing and externalizing problems, as possibly having MHP, but teachers had difficulty in identifying students with internalizing problems alone. At least 50.0% of teachers learned to identify hypothetical cases as problematic and to make the appropriate referral, and 60.0% of teachers who before training could not identify normal adolescence learned to do so. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy was partially effective but could be improved mainly by extending its duration, and including discussion of actual cases.

Psychopharmacology and psychotherapy for the treatment of adults with ADHD-a systematic review of available meta-analyses.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE/INTRODUCTION: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adult life is a prevalent condition. We systematically reviewed the literature available by searching for meta-analyses assessing pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for adults with ADHD. METHODS: Using wide-ranging search terms, we retrieved 191 titles from the PubMed and Cochrane databases. Two independent evaluators judged all abstracts. Only meta-analyses about the treatment of adults with ADHD were included. Information from meta-analyses found was systematically extracted by 3 independent evaluators. RESULTS: Eight meta-analyses were identified. Results from those meta-analyses suggest that stimulants are effective in decreasing ADHD symptoms on a short-term basis with a medium to large effect size (ES). Short-acting stimulants might be superior to long-acting stimulants, but no data on difference in adherence are available for the comparison of these two types of formulation. Bupropion is superior to placebo but less effective than stimulants. No conclusions about the impact of psychosocial interventions can be drawn based on meta-analyses so far. Discussion The efficacy of stimulants in reducing ADHD symptoms for adults is well documented in meta-analyses, but there is a concerning lack of meta-analysis about other treatment interventions. CONCLUSION: The available meta-analytic literature does not cover questions of essential clinical relevance for adults with ADHD.

Family food insecurity and nutritional risk in adolescents from a low-income area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The study objective was to analyse the association between food insecurity and the weight and height status of adolescents from a low-income area in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The population-based cross-sectional survey included 523 adolescents aged 12-18 years, selected by a three-stage cluster sample. Dietary intake was ascertained with a food frequency questionnaire and family food insecurity was assessed with a validated questionnaire. The analysis estimated weighted means of energy and nutrient intakes by families' socioeconomic characteristics and the association between dietary intake with overweight and stunting. The prevalence of mild family food insecurity was 36%, and 24% of the families reported moderate or severe food insecurity. Overweight prevalence was 24%, and the prevalence of stunting was 9%, with no significant differences between sex or age groups. Family food insecurity was associated with unfavourable socioeconomic characteristics, but there was no association between socioeconomic characteristics (including family food insecurity) and overweight or stunting. Moderate or severe family food insecurity was inversely associated with intake of protein and calcium. In addition, stunting was associated with low calcium and iron intake. The co-existence of family food insecurity with overweight and stunting implies a high nutritional risk for adolescents from poor areas of Rio de Janeiro. Nevertheless, the observed absence of a statistical association between family food insecurity and weight status attests to the complexity of this issue.

The presence of the -866A/55Val/Ins haplotype in the uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene is associated with decreased UCP2 gene expression in human retina.

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial transporter present in the inner membrane of mitochondria, and it uncouples substrate oxidation from ATP synthesis, thereby dissipating the membrane potential energy and consequently decreasing ATP production by mitochondrial respiratory chain. As a consequence of the uncoupling, UCP2 decreases the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation by mitochondria. ROS overproduction is related to diabetic retinopathy (DR), a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Recently, our group reported that the -866A/55Val/Ins haplotype (-866G/A, Ala55Val and Ins/Del polymorphisms) of the UCP2 gene was associated with increased risk for DR in patients with DM. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of this haplotype on UCP2 gene expression in human retina. In addition, MnSOD2 gene expression was also investigated according to different UCP2 haplotypes. This cross-sectional study included 188 cadaveric cornea donors. In a subset of 91 retinal samples differentiated according to the presence of the mutated UCP2 haplotype and risk alleles of the -866G/A and Ins/Del polymorphisms, UCP2 and MnSOD2 gene expressions were measured by semi-quantitative RT-qPCR. Mutated UCP2 haplotype carriers (homozygous + heterozygous) had a lower UCP2 gene expression than reference haplotype carriers (8.4 ± 7.6 vs. 18.8 ± 23.7 arbitrary units; P = 0.046). Accordingly, UCP2 gene expression was decreased in -866A carriers when compared with G/G carriers (P = 0.010). UCP2 gene expression did not differ between Ins allele carriers and Del/Del carriers (P = 0.556). Interestingly, subjects carrying the heterozygous UCP2 haplotype showed increased MnSOD2 gene expression (P = 0.025). This is the first report suggesting that the presence of the -866A/55Val/Ins haplotype is associated with decreased UCP2 gene expression in human retina. Possibly, MnSOD2 expression might influence the UCP2 effect in the protection against oxidative stress.