ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine attitudes and beliefs related to help-seeking for depression among an international sample of pregnant women, a majority of whom were Spanish-speakers residing in Latin America. METHODS: More than 6 000 (n = 6 672) pregnant women met eligibility criteria and consented to participate between 15 January 2009-12 August 2011. Of these, 1 760 with a Latino/Hispanic background completed a baseline survey as part of a larger study. Group comparisons analyzed attitudes and behaviors related to seeking help for depression, while a logistic regression was conducted to identify demographic characteristics related to help-seeking support. RESULTS: Of the participants, three-fourths reported experiencing depression during or after their current or past pregnancies. The majority of participants did not seek help, and generally reported ambivalence about their depressive symptoms and uncertainty as to the helpfulness of others. However, 44.8% did seek help, mostly by speaking to family or partners and reported feeling fear, shame, and embarrassment about their symptoms. A current major depressive episode and an income less than or equal to US$ 10 000 were significant predictors of help-seeking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study suggest that when feeling sad or depressed, perinatal Latinas tend to seek emotional support first from family and friends and may underutilize mental health services when needed. The Internet is an effective means for reaching perinatal women, especially those in areas of the world where there may be barriers to accessing psychological resources.
OBJETIVO: Analizar las actitudes y las creencias relacionadas con la búsqueda de ayuda para la depresión en una muestra internacional de mujeres embarazadas, la mayor parte de ellas hispanohablantes y residentes en América Latina. MÉTODOS: Más de 6 000 mujeres embarazadas (n = 6 672) cumplieron los criterios de selección y aceptaron participar entre el 15 de enero del 2009 y el 12 de agosto del 2011. De estas, 1 760 de origen latino o hispano completaron una encuesta básica que formaba parte de un estudio más amplio. Mediante comparaciones de grupo, se analizaron las actitudes y los comportamientos relacionados con la búsqueda de ayuda para la depresión, mientras que, mediante regresión logística, se determinaron las características demográficas relacionadas con la búsqueda de ayuda o apoyo. RESULTADOS: De todas las participantes, tres cuartas partes notificaron sentimientos de depresión durante o después de los embarazos actuales o pasados. La mayor parte de ellas no buscaron ayuda, y en general manifestaron ambivalencia acerca de sus síntomas depresivos e incertidumbre en cuanto a la capacidad de ayuda de otras personas. Sin embargo, 44,8% buscaron ayuda, principalmente hablando con familiares o compañeros, y notificaron sentimientos de temor, culpabilidad y vergüenza acerca de sus síntomas. Un episodio depresivo mayor actual y unos ingresos iguales o inferiores a US$ 10 000 fueron factores predictivos significativos de comportamientos de búsqueda de ayuda. CONCLUSIONES: Los datos de este estudio indican que, cuando se sienten tristes o deprimidas, las mujeres latinas en período perinatal tienden a buscar en primer lugar el apoyo emocional de la familia y los amigos, y podrían subutilizar los servicios de salud mental cuando son necesarios. La internet es un medio eficaz para llegar a las mujeres en período perinatal, especialmente a las que viven en zonas del mundo donde pueden existir barreras para el acceso a los recursos psicológicos.
Subject(s)
Animals , Blastula/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Xenopus/embryology , Xenopus/genetics , Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism , Gene Expression Profiling , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Poly A/metabolism , Polyadenylation/genetics , RNA Stability/genetics , RNA, Messenger, Stored/genetics , RNA, Messenger, Stored/metabolism , Reproducibility of Results , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcription, Genetic , Xenopus Proteins/genetics , Xenopus Proteins/metabolism , Zebrafish/geneticsSubject(s)
Information Seeking Behavior , Perinatal Care , Peripartum Period , Internet , Latin America , Depression, Postpartum , Healthy Lifestyle , Information Seeking Behavior , Perinatal Care , Peripartum Period , Latin America , Blastula , Xenopus , Embryo, Nonmammalian , Poly A , RNA, Messenger, Stored , Xenopus Proteins , Zebrafish , Health Behavior , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Gene Expression Profiling , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Polyadenylation , RNA Stability , Reproducibility of Results , Transcription Factors , Transcription, GeneticABSTRACT
The mRNAs accumulated in oocytes provide support for embryo development until embryo genomic activation. We hypothesized that the maternal mRNA stock present in bovine oocytes is associated with embryo development until the blastocyst stage. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed the transcriptome of the oocyte and correlated the results with the embryo development. Our goal was to identify genes expressed in the oocyte that correlate with its ability to develop to the blastocyst stage. A fraction of oocyte cytoplasm was biopsied using micro-aspiration and stored for further expression analysis. Oocytes were activated chemically, cultured individually and classified according to their capacity to develop in vitro to the blastocyst stage. Microarray analysis was performed on mRNA extracted from the oocyte cytoplasm fractions and correlated with its ability to develop to the blastocyst stage (good quality oocyte) or arrest at the 8-16-cell stage (bad quality oocyte). The expression of 4320 annotated genes was detected in the fractions of cytoplasm that had been collected from oocytes matured in vitro. Gene ontology classification revealed that enriched gene expression of genes was associated with certain biological processes: 'RNA processing', 'translation' and 'mRNA metabolic process'. Genes that are important to the molecular functions of 'RNA binding' and 'translation factor activity, RNA binding' were also enriched in oocytes. We identified 29 genes with differential expression between the two groups of oocytes compared (good versus bad quality). The content of mRNAs expressed in metaphase II oocytes influences the activation of the embryonic genome and enables further develop to the blastocyst stage.
Subject(s)
Blastocyst/cytology , Embryo, Mammalian/cytology , Embryonic Development , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Metaphase/genetics , Oocytes/cytology , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Animals , Blastocyst/metabolism , Cattle , Cells, Cultured , Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , In Vitro Techniques , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Oocytes/metabolism , RNA, Messenger, Stored/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
The segmentation process in insects depends on a hierarchical cascade of gene activity. The first effectors downstream of the maternal activation are the gap genes, which divide the embryo in broad fields. We discovered a sequence corresponding to the leucine-zipper domain of the orthologue of the gene giant (Rp-gt) in traces from the genome of Rhodnius prolixus, a hemipteran with intermediate germ-band development. We cloned the Rp-gt gene from a normalized cDNA library and characterized its expression and function. Bioinformatic analysis of 12.5 kbp of genomic sequence containing the Rp-gt transcriptional unit shows a cluster of bona fide regulatory binding sites, which is similar in location and structure to the predicted posterior expression domain of the Drosophila orthologue. Rp-gt is expressed in ovaries and maternally supplied in the early embryo. The maternal contribution forms a gradient of scattered patches of mRNA in the preblastoderm embryo. Zygotic Rp-gt is expressed in two domains that after germ band extension are restricted to the head and the posterior growth zone. Parental RNAi shows that Rp-gt is required for proper head and abdomen formation. The head lacks mandibulary and maxillary appendages and shows reduced clypeus-labrum, while the abdomen lacks anterior segments. We conclude that Rp-gt is a gap gene on the head and abdomen and, in addition, has a function in patterning the anterior head capsule suggesting that the function of gt in hemipterans is more similar to dipterans than expected.
Subject(s)
Abdomen/embryology , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology , Head/embryology , RNA, Messenger, Stored/metabolism , Rhodnius/embryology , Rhodnius/genetics , Animals , Base Sequence , Bayes Theorem , Cloning, Molecular , Computational Biology , DNA Primers/genetics , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics , Gene Library , In Situ Hybridization , Models, Genetic , Molecular Sequence Data , Ovary/metabolism , Phylogeny , RNA Interference , RNA, Messenger, Stored/genetics , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Rhodnius/metabolism , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Gene expression in trypanosomatids is mainly regulated post-transcriptionally. One of the mechanisms involves the differential stability of mRNAs. However, the existence of other mechanisms involving the accessibility of mRNAs to the translation machinery cannot be ruled out. Defined cytoplasmic foci containing non-translating mRNPs, known as P-bodies, have been discovered in recent years. P-bodies are sites where mRNA can be decapped and 5'-3' degraded or stored for subsequent return to polysomes. The highly conserved DEAD box helicase Dhh1p is a marker protein of P-body functions. Here, we report the identification and cloning of a Trypanosoma cruzi Dhh1 homolog gene. TcDhh1 expression is not regulated through the parasite life cycle or under stress conditions. We show that TcDhh1 is present in polysome-independent complexes and is localized to discrete cytoplasmic foci, resembling P-bodies; these foci vary in number according to nutritional stress conditions and cycloheximide/puromycin treatment.