Positive Youth Development, Mental Stress and Life Satisfaction in Middle School and High School Students in Portugal: Outcomes on Stress, Anxiety and Depression.

The relation between positive youth development and stress, anxiety and depression was studied considering the mediator role of psychological symptoms and life satisfaction. A total of 3109 students included in the "Psychological Health and Well-being" study of the School Observatory participated, including 1618 females and 1491 males aged between 11 and 18 years old (M = 14.45; SD = 1.88), belonging to different school groups in different regions of the country. Adolescents with higher stress, depression and anxiety levels reported lower levels of competence, confidence and connection, as well as more psychological symptoms and lower life satisfaction. The results also showed that adolescents with higher levels of competence, confidence and connection reported less psychological symptoms and more life satisfaction. Two separate mediation analyses were performed to analyse the role of mental distress and life satisfaction on the relationship between positive youth development indicators and stress, anxiety and depression. These analyses confirmed the predicted relationships and partial mediations between mental distress and life satisfaction. These results should be taken into account in public policies concerning young people's health and education that should involve both targeted and indicated prevention strategies, including school and community-based interventions, in order to be effective.

Factors Associated with Overt Stroke in Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with a high occurrence of complications due to vaso-occlusive phenomenon such as stroke. This retrospective cohort study aimed to examine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 120 children and adolescents with SCD and analyze the factors associated with overt stroke incidence. All relevant data were obtained from patient medical records. Survival analysis was used to compare the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics between patients with and those without overt stroke. The patients were 52.5% female with a mean (SD) age of 11.2 (4.3) years. The incidence of overt stroke in this cohort was nine out of 956.7 patient-years, resulting in an incidence density of 0.94 cases/100 patient-years. Reports of greater than or equal to two previous attacks of dactylitis and greater than or equal to three episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS)/pneumonia were associated with overt stroke and an increase in reticulocyte count and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). In conclusion, a history of a high number of dactylitis, ACS/pneumonia, increased RDW, and reticulocytosis was associated with overt stroke occurrence in children and adolescents with SCD. Future studies with a higher stroke incidence in the evaluated sample are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Perceived Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction: Does the Role of Gender, Age, Skills, and Psychological Factors Remain Relevant after the COVID-19 Pandemic?

BACKGROUND: After two years of psychological, physical, social, economic, environmental, and societal challenges, this paper examines the psychological health and well-being of Portuguese students based on their socioemotional skills (SSES), positive youth development (PYD), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS), as well as the relationship between these variables and their influence on perceived quality of life and life satisfaction. METHODS: This study examined 3235 students from lower to upper secondary, half of whom were female (M = 14.46 ± 1.883 years old). Using SPSS software, descriptive statistics were determined for all variables; mean differences between age and gender were found using ANOVA and the post hoc Scheffe test. Linear regressions with the Enter method were used to study how to predict perceived quality of life and satisfaction with life. RESULTS: Males had scores indicating more SSES|optimism, emotional control, resilience, confidence, sociability, creativity, energy, a sense of belonging to school, and PYD. Girls had better skills for cooperating and relating to teachers but more test anxiety and DASS. Younger adolescents had better psychological health, greater skills, and a better perception of quality of life and life satisfaction when compared to older adolescents. Age, gender, SSES, PYD, and the DASS variables can explain 69% of the variance in life satisfaction, while these variables can explain 60.5% of the variance in perceived quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: These results point to the relevance of SSES for psychological health and well-being, suggesting that interventions should focus on promoting these variables, paying special attention to female gender and age-related challenges.

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge in an intermittent mixing reactor: Effect of hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate.

An anaerobic digester was operated at mesophilic temperature and with intermittent mixing conditions to treat waste activated sludge. The organic loading rate (OLR) was increased by decreasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT), and the effect on process performance, digestate characteristics and inactivation of pathogens was investigated. The removal efficiency of total volatile solids (TVS) was also measured by biogas formation. The HRT varied from 50 to 7 days, corresponding to OLR from 0.38 to 2.31 kgTVS.m-3.d-1. The acidity/alkalinity ratio remained within stable limits (lower than 0.6) at 50-, 25- and 17-day HRT; due to an imbalance between the production and consumption of volatile fatty acids, the ratio increased to 0.7 ± 0.2 at HRT of 9 days and 7 days. The highest TVS removal efficiencies were 16, 12 and 9%, which were obtained at 50-, 25- and 17 day-HRT, respectively. Intermittent mixing provided solids sedimentation greater than 30% for almost all HRT tested. The highest methane yields (0.10-0.05 m3.kgTVSfed-1.d-1) were obtained when the reactor was operated at a higher HRT (50-17 days). At lower HRT, methanogenic reactions were likely limited. Zinc and copper were the main heavy metals found in the digestate, while the most probable number (MPN) of coliform bacteria remained below 106 MPN.g TVS-1. Neither Salmonella nor viable Ascaris eggs were found in the digestate. In general, increasing the OLR by decreasing the HRT to 17 days under intermittent mixing conditions provided an attractive alternative to treat sewage sludge despite some limitations due to biogas and methane yields.

COVID-19, Wellness and Life Satisfaction in Adolescence: Individual and Contextual Issues.

During and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, several works reflected on young people's physical and psychological health. The Dual Factor Model, which we refer to as the quadripartite model, is useful for understanding children's and adolescents' psychological health and differentiating them regarding their attitude toward the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this investigation, students from the fifth to twelfth year of schooling enrolled in the DGEEC study "Psychological Health and Wellbeing in Portuguese schools" were considered. Four groups were created based on life satisfaction (low or high) and psychological distress (with or without symptoms). The study included 4444 students (M = 13.39 years ± 2.41), of whom 47.8% were male. Of the participants, 27.2% were in the second cycle of primary education, and 72.8% were in lower and upper secondary education. Differences in gender and education level (as a proxy for age) were observed. Additionally, when considering students' perceptions of changes in their lives following the COVID-19 pandemic (stayed the same, became worse, became better), these three groups were compared concerning personal and contextual variables, revealing significant differences at both the individual and contextual levels. Finally, the study discusses the influence of education and health professionals and the need for friendly public policies.

Cross-cultural validation of the Brazilian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (LDCDQ-BR) for preschool children.

INTRODUCTION: Motor difficulties associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are frequently apparent before the accepted diagnostic age of 5. Tools to support identification of DCD markers would allow provision of early intervention to reduce negative sequelae. OBJECTIVE: Establish psychometric properties and define preliminary cut-off scores for the Brazilian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Brazil (LDCDQ-BR). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Parents of 3- and 4-year-old children (n = 312; 154 girls) from Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil, completed the LDCDQ-BR, the Brazil Economic Classification Criterion and a demographic questionnaire. One sub-set of children (n = 119) was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition; another sub-set (n = 77) completed the LDCDQ-BR a second time. RESULTS: Rasch analysis indicated good item functioning with only one erratic item, suggesting unidimensionality. Item calibration reliability was excellent (0.97), children's measures reliability was low (0.72), but implying separation of 2.46 motor ability levels. Significant, low correlations were found between the LDCDQ-BR and MABC-2 (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Test-retest reliability was 0.77 (total score) and 0.44-0.78 (individual items). ROC curve analysis revealed sensitivity of 68% at a cut-off score of 64. CONCLUSION: The LDCDQ-BR shows promising psychometric properties to support early identification of DCD.

Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome.

Interactions between hosts and their resident microbial communities are a fundamental component of fitness for both agents. Though recent research has highlighted the importance of interactions between animals and their bacterial communities, comparative evidence for fungi is lacking, especially in natural populations. Using data from 49 species, we present novel evidence of strong covariation between fungal and bacterial communities across the host phylogeny, indicative of recruitment by hosts for specific suites of microbes. Using co-occurrence networks, we demonstrate marked variation across host taxonomy in patterns of covariation between bacterial and fungal abundances. Host phylogeny drives differences in the overall richness of bacterial and fungal communities, but the effect of diet on richness was only evident in the mammalian gut microbiome. Sample type, tissue storage and DNA extraction method also affected bacterial and fungal community composition, and future studies would benefit from standardized approaches to sample processing. Collectively these data indicate fungal microbiomes may play a key role in host fitness and suggest an urgent need to study multiple agents of the animal microbiome to accurately determine the strength and ecological significance of host-microbe interactions.

Microsatellite Markers for Bearded Capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus): Transferability and Characterization.

Natural Sapajus libidinosus populations are in continuous decline due to fragmentation, habitat loss, and the illegal pet trade. They live in Caatinga scrub forests, which already lost over 50% of their original cover. The lack of studies on S. libidinosus population genetics means that we do not know how they are being affected by this striking habitat loss and other anthropogenic disturbances. Polymorphic markers are not available for the study of S. libidinosus diversity and population genetics. Thus, here we aimed to test the transferability of 14 microsatellite markers to S. libidinosus. These microsatellites were previously isolated from Cebus capucinus (white-faced capuchin), species belonging to the same subfamily (Cebinae) as the study species. We found that six of the tested microsatellite markers (tetra-nucleotide) were cross-amplified in our target species. All loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles varied from 4 to 7, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.588 to 0.869. The microsatellite markers transferred to S. libidinosus and characterised in our study will be valuable tools to evaluate the genetic variability of both wild and captive populations. They will considerably reduce the costs of microsatellite isolations, helping to prioritise currently limited research and conservation budgets in Brazil.

Entrevista narrativa com pessoas em situação de rua com transtornos mentais: relato de experiência / Entrevista narrativa con personas en la situación de la calle con trastornos mentales: informe de experiencia / Narrative interview with homeless persons with mental illness: experience report

Resumo Objetivo relatar a experiência do uso da entrevista narrativa com pessoas em situação de rua com transtornos mentais. Método relato de experiência realizada em uma capital do Sul do Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu de julho a outubro de 2019. Resultados a aplicação da entrevista narrativa desenvolveu-se em duas etapas: aproximação com o campo e seleção dos participantes; e construção da narrativa. A primeira envolveu uma inserção em um Consultório na Rua e possibilitou a identificação e o desenvolvimento de vínculo com os usuários. A segunda ocorreu com o desenvolvimento da entrevista narrativa e envolveu os seguintes passos: contato e negociação, história principal e fase de questionamentos. Conclusão a entrevista narrativa se apresenta como ferramenta metodológica com potencial para a construção de itinerários terapêuticos de pessoas em situação de rua com transtornos mentais, contextualizando suas opções na busca pelo seu cuidado na perspectiva de suas histórias de vida. Implicação para a prática a entrevista narrativa possibilita fazer-se ouvir em histórias frequentemente negligenciadas. Por ter como foco central a construção de sentidos por parte de quem vivencia determinada realidade, permitiu a reconstrução desses, possibilitando novos olhares e insights em relação à própria experiência de quem relatava.

Resumen Objetivo relatar la experiencia de utilizar entrevistas narrativas con personas en situación callejera con trastornos mentales. Método informe de experiencia realizado en una capital del Sur de Brasil. La recolección de datos tuvo lugar de julio a octubre de 2019. Resultados La aplicación de la entrevista narrativa se desarrolló en dos etapas: aproximación al campo y selección de participantes; y construcción de la narrativa. La primera implicó una inserción en un Consultório na Rua y permitió identificar y desarrollar vínculos con los usuarios. La segunda ocurrió con el desarrollo de la entrevista narrativa y contó con los siguientes pasos: contacto y negociación, historia principal y fase de cuestionamientos. Conclusión la entrevista narrativa se presenta como una poderosa herramienta metodológica para la construcción de itinerarios terapéuticos para personas en situación callejera con trastornos mentales, contextualizando sus opciones en la búsqueda de su cuidado desde la perspectiva de sus historias de vida. Implicación para la práctica la entrevista narrativa permite hacerse oír en historias que a menudo se pasan por alto. Debido a que tiene como foco central la construcción de significados por parte de quienes experimentan una determinada realidad, permitió la reconstrucción de estos, posibilitando nuevas miradas y percepciones en relación a la propia experiencia de quien informa.

Abstract Objective report the experience of using the narrative interview with homeless persons who suffer from mental disorders. Method experience report held in a capital city in the South of Brazil. The data collection took place from July to October 2019. Results the application of the narrative interview was developed in two stages: approach to the field and selection of participants; and construction of the narrative. The first involved an insertion in a Street Office and made it possible to identify and develop a link with the users. The second occurred with the development of the narrative interview and involved the following steps: contact and negotiation, main story and questioning phase. Conclusion the narrative interview presents itself as a methodological tool with potential for the construction of therapeutic itineraries for homeless persons with mental disorders, contextualizing their options in the search for their care from the perspective of their life stories. Implication for practice narrative interviewing makes it possible to make oneself heard in often neglected stories. By having as a central focus the construction of senses by those who experience a certain reality, it allowed the reconstruction of these, allowing new looks and insights in relation to the very experience of those who reported.

Influência do uso de jogos do Microsoft Kinect® sobre o desempenho motor e funcional de criança com transtorno do desenvolvimento de coordenação / Influence of the Microsoft Kinect® games on the motor and functional performance of a child with developmental coordination disorder

Resumo: Introdução Boa coordenação motora é essencial para que crianças sejam capazes de desempenhar diversas atividades cotidianas na escola, em casa e em outros ambientes sociais. Algumas crianças, no entanto, apresentam Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (TDC) o que dificulta tais atividades. Abordagens de realidade virtual (RV) vêm sendo utilizadas em diversos contextos da reabilitação, com destaque para o uso de jogos baseados no movimento. Objetivo Investigar a influência do uso de jogos do Microsoft Kinect® sobre o desempenho motor e funcional de uma criança de 8 anos, com TDC, com treinamento individual. Método Antes e após o treino, a coordenação motora, o condicionamento físico, o equilíbrio e o desempenho funcional nas atividades selecionadas foram avaliados com uso do Questionário de Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (DCDQ-Brasil), do Movement Assessment Battery for Children -2ª edição (MABC-2), do Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (PEGS), da Medida Canadense de Desempenho Ocupacional (COPM) e do teste de caminhada de 2 minutos. Resultados A criança obteve ganho clinicamente significativo nos resultados da COPM, aumento na pontuação nos itens relacionados à habilidades motora grossa no DCDQ-Brasil, bem como melhora no condicionamento físico durante a intervenção, que não foram mantidos na fase pós-intervenção, sugerindo que jogos do Microsoft Kinect® devem ser melhor explorados como estratégia terapêutica para crianças com TDC. Conclusão As limitações do estudo de caso são discutidas com vistas a subsidiar estudos futuros.

Abstract: Introduction A good motor coordination is essential to children to be able to perform daily activities at school, at home, and in other social environments. However, some children have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), which makes it difficult to perform these activities. As a new approach, virtual reality is being used in different rehabilitation contexts, with an emphasis on the use of motion-based games. Objective The aim of this case study was to investigate the influence of the use of Microsoft Kinect® games on the motor and functional performance of an eight years old child with DCD, trained individually. Method Pre and post-assessment of motor coordination, physical fitness, balance, and functional performance in selected activities were conducted using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-Brazil), the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (MABC-2), the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (PEGS), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the 2-minute walk test. Results The child presented clinically significant gains in the COPM, increased scores on items related to gross motor skills in the DCDQ-Brazil, as well as improvement in physical conditioning during the intervention, which was not maintained in the post-intervention phase, suggesting that the use of Microsoft Kinect® games should be further explored as therapeutic strategy for children with DCD. Conclusion The limitations of the case study are discussed as a means to subsidize future studies.

Deregulation of Ikaros expression in B-1 cells: New insights in the malignant transformation to chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a chronic form of leukemia that originates from an abnormal expansion of CD5+ B-1 cells. Deregulation in the BCR signaling is associated with B-cell transformation. Contrariwise to B-2 cells, BCR engagement in B-1 cells results in low proliferation rate and increased apoptosis population, whereas overactivation may be associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. It has been demonstrated that several transcription factors that are involved in the B cell development play a role in the regulation of BCR function. Among them, Ikaros is considered an essential regulator of lymphoid differentiation and activation. Several reports suggest that Ikaros expression is deregulated in different forms of leukemia. Herein, we demonstrated that CLL cells show decreased Ikaros expression and abnormal cytoplasmic cell localization. These alterations were also observed in radioresistant B-1 cells, which present high proliferative activity, suggesting that abnormal localization of Ikaros could determine its loss of function. Furthermore, Ikaros knockdown increased the expression of BCR pathway components in murine B-1 cells, such as Lyn, Blnk, and CD19. Additionally, in the absence of Ikaros, B-1 cells become responsive to BCR stimulus, increasing cell proliferation even in the absence of antigen stimulation. These results suggested that Ikaros is an important controller of B-1 cell proliferation by interfering with the BCR activity. Therefore, altered Ikaros expression in CLL or radioresistant B-1 cells could determine a responsive status of BCR to self-antigens, which would culminate in the clonal expansion of B-1 cells.

Attitudes facing pain and the spirituality of chronic renal patients in hemodialysis / Atitudes frente à dor e à espiritualidade dos pacientes renais crônicos em hemodiálise

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent studies show that religion and spirituality are important for the dialysis patient since these variables have been shown to influence important aspects of quality of life and to cope with the disease. In addition, spirituality may be effective in coping with chronic kidney disease and relieving symptoms arising from hemodialysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes towards the pain in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and its relation with spirituality. METHODS: This is a co-relational and cross-sectional study of 50 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. The data were collected through an individual interview, using the sociodemographic characterization questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory and the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale. RESULTS: Regarding attitudes facing chronic pain measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, the lowest mean score was in the "Solicitude" domain (1.48±1.35) and the highest in "Incapacity" (3.05±1.37). As for spirituality, the mean scores were 3.80±0.39 and 3.36±0.67 in the beliefs and hope/optimism dimensions, respectively. A positive, moderate-magnitude correlation was observed between the hope/optimism dimension of the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale and the solicitude domains (r=0.315, p=0.026) and emotion (r=0.299, p=0.035) of the Brief Pain Inventory. CONCLUSION: The relationship between attitudes facing pain and the level of spirituality of the chronic renal patient was confirmed. Therefore, these aspects should be considered in the care provided to help in coping with the treatment and the disease.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Estudos recentes trazem que a religião e a espiritualidade são importantes para o paciente dialítico, já que essas variáveis se mostraram influentes em aspectos importantes da qualidade de vida e enfrentamento da doença. Além disso, a espiritualidade pode ser eficaz no enfrentamento da doença renal crônica e alívio dos sintomas advindos da hemodiálise. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as atitudes frente à dor de pacientes com doença renal crônica em hemodiálise e sua relação com a espiritualidade. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo correlacional e transversal, realizado com 50 pacientes com doença renal crônica em hemodiálise. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista individual, utilizando-se o questionário de caracterização sociodemográfica, Inventário de Atitudes Frente à Dor-Breve e a Escala de Espiritualidade de Pinto e Pais-Ribeiro. RESULTADOS: Em relação às atitudes frente à dor crônica, mensuradas pelo Inventário de Atitudes Frente à Dor-Breve, o escore médio mais baixo foi no domínio "Solicitude" (1,48±1,35) e o mais elevado em "Incapacidade" (3,05±1,37). Quanto à espiritualidade, as pontuações médias foram de 3,80±0,39 e 3,36±0,67 nas dimensões crenças e esperança/otimismo, respectivamente. Observou-se correlação positiva, de moderada magnitude, entre a dimensão esperança/otimismo da Escala de Espiritualidade de Pinto e Pais-Ribeiro e os domínios solicitude (r=0,315; p=0,026) e emoção (r=0,299; p=0,035) do Inventário de Atitudes Frente à Dor-Breve. CONCLUSÃO: Confirmou-se a relação entre as atitudes frente à dor e o nível de espiritualidade do paciente renal crônico, logo, tais aspectos deverão ser considerados na assistência prestada a fim de auxiliar no enfrentamento do tratamento e da doença.

Effect of bleaching agents on black tooth stains caused by chromogenic bacteria: 10 years follow-up case report / Efeito de agentes clareadores na pigmentação extrínseca causada por bactérias cromogênicas: 10 anos de acompanhamento de caso

ABSTRACT Some microorganisms are associated with the formation and deposition of pigmentation on dental surfaces, and its localization, intensity and recurrence persistence can introduce aesthetic disorders. Carbamide peroxide is a bleaching agent that also presents antimicrobial properties. This case report addresses a ten-year clinical follow-up, showing a possible influence of a bleaching procedure protocol on alterations of oral microbiota. Although a bleaching treatment does not have the purpose to alter the oral microbiota, a drastic reduction and recurrence of black tooth stains was observed in this case.

RESUMO Alguns microrganismos são associados com a formação e deposição de pigmentação sobre a superfície dental, sendo que a localização, intensidade e persistência de recorrência dessas pigmentações podem levar a problemas estéticos. O peróxido de carbamida é um agente clareador no qual também mostra propriedades antimicrobianas. Este relato de caso trata de um acompanhamento de dez anos mostrando uma possível influência de um clareamento dental em alterações na microbiota. Embora o clareamento dental não tenha a finalidade de alterar a microbiota bucal, neste relato foi observado a redução na quantidade e recorrência de manchas extrínsecas negras.

A calmodulin-like protein (LCALA) is a new Leishmania amazonensis candidate for telomere end-binding protein.

BACKGROUND: Leishmania spp. telomeres are composed of 5'-TTAGGG-3' repeats associated with proteins. We have previously identified LaRbp38 and LaRPA-1 as proteins that bind the G-rich telomeric strand. At that time, we had also partially characterized a protein: DNA complex, named LaGT1, but we could not identify its protein component. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using protein-DNA interaction and competition assays, we confirmed that LaGT1 is highly specific to the G-rich telomeric single-stranded DNA. Three protein bands, with LaGT1 activity, were isolated from affinity-purified protein extracts in-gel digested, and sequenced de novo using mass spectrometry analysis. In silico analysis of the digested peptide identified them as a putative calmodulin with sequences identical to the T. cruzi calmodulin. In the Leishmania genome, the calmodulin ortholog is present in three identical copies. We cloned and sequenced one of the gene copies, named it LCalA, and obtained the recombinant protein. Multiple sequence alignment and molecular modeling showed that LCalA shares homology to most eukaryotes calmodulin. In addition, we demonstrated that LCalA is nuclear, partially co-localizes with telomeres and binds in vivo the G-rich telomeric strand. Recombinant LCalA can bind specifically and with relative affinity to the G-rich telomeric single-strand and to a 3'G-overhang, and DNA binding is calcium dependent. CONCLUSIONS: We have described a novel candidate component of Leishmania telomeres, LCalA, a nuclear calmodulin that binds the G-rich telomeric strand with high specificity and relative affinity, in a calcium-dependent manner. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: LCalA is the first reported calmodulin that binds in vivo telomeric DNA.

A calmodulin-like protein (LCALA) is a new Leishmania amazonensis candidate for telomere end-binding protein

Background Leishmania spp. telomeres are composed of 5'-TTAGGG-3' repeats associated with proteins. We have previously identified LaRbp38 and LaRPA-1 as proteins that bind the G-rich telomeric strand. At that time, we had also partially characterized a protein: DNA complex, named LaGT1, but we could not identify its protein component. Methods and results Using protein-DNA interaction and competition assays, we confirmed that LaGT1 is highly specific to the G-rich telomeric single-stranded DNA. Three protein bands, with LaGT1 activity, were isolated from affinity-purified protein extracts in-gel digested, and sequenced de novo using mass spectrometry analysis. In silico analysis of the digested peptide identified them as a putative calmodulin with sequences identical to the T. cruzi calmodulin. In the Leishmania genome, the calmodulin ortholog is present in three identical copies. We cloned and sequenced one of the gene copies, named it LCalA, and obtained the recombinant protein. Multiple sequence alignment and molecular modeling showed that LCalA shares homology to most eukaryotes calmodulin. In addition, we demonstrated that LCalA is nuclear, partially co-localizes with telomeres and binds in vivo the G-rich telomeric strand. Recombinant LCalA can bind specifically and with relative affinity to the G-rich telomeric single-strand and to a 3'G-overhang, and DNA binding is calcium dependent. Conclusions We have described a novel candidate component of Leishmania telomeres, LCalA, a nuclear calmodulin that binds the G-rich telomeric strand with high specificity and relative affinity, in a calcium-dependent manner.

Adaptability in stone tool use by wild capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus).

Capuchin monkeys are well known for population variation in the use of stone tools and the types of food items consumed. In order to determine adaptability in stone tool use, we investigated a never before studied population of wild capuchin monkey (Sapajus libidinosus) displaying terrestrial habits in a Caatinga environment. To carry out this study we recorded physical evidence of the use of stone tools as well as made direct observations through trap cameras. During a 15-month period, we studied a group of Sapajus libidinosus in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil. In total, 257 anvils and 395 hammers were identified, characterized, and monitored. We identified five types of food items exploited at these "tool use sites": Syagrus oleracea (catolé palm), Manihot epruinosa (manioc), Pilosocereus pachycladus (facheiro), Tacinga inamoena (quípa), and Commiphora leptophloeos (imburana de cambão). Five hundred three video clips of capuchin monkeys were recorded, 43 of which involved the use of stone tools. The results indicated evidence of adaptability in tool use by the capuchins. We verified that the rigidity and size of the food item, along with the presence or absence of spines seem to influence the choice of stone tools made by the animals for processing the food. The recurring use of tools for the processing of cacti was especially noteworthy and it appears that the presence of spines predisposes the capuchins to use stones to process them. A significant difference was observed between the characteristics of the anvils and the weight of the hammers according to the food item consumed. The use of tools enabled the animals to access otherwise unavailable or difficult to acquire food items within a Caatinga habitat. Adaptability in the use of stone tools by the capuchin monkey population of Serra Talhada provides an example of the complexity that these primates demonstrate in food processing.

Protective effects of green tea against hepatic injury induced by high-cholesterol diet in rats: histopathological analysis, oxidative DNA damage and COX-2 expression.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate whether daily administration of green tea is able to protect the liver injury induced by cholesterol. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were distributed into four groups: group 1, negative control; group 2, cholesterol at 1% (w/w) in the diet treated for 5 weeks; group 3, cholesterol at 1% treated for 5 weeks and green tea at 1% (w/v) in drinking water in the last week only and group 4, cholesterol and green tea at 1% in drinking water for 5 weeks. RESULTS: The results pointed out that treatment with green tea in the last week (group 3) showed mild degenerative changes of liver tissue in cholesterol exposed group when compared to group 2. Green tea aqueous extract was not able to reduce cholesterol levels, that is, no significant statistical differences (p > 0.05) were noticed when compared to positive control group. Nevertheless, green tea was able to decrease oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage either to peripheral blood or to liver cells as depicted by significant statistical differences (p < 0.05) in the mean tail moment between groups treated with green tea and cholesterol and cholesterol only. Furthermore, histomorphometric analysis of COX-2 expression revealed that in groups exposed to green tea they were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), regardless of time exposure adopted. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that daily administration of green tea for at least 7 days displays some preventive properties as indicated by COX-2 downregulation and decreased oxidative DNA damage.

Grape juice concentrate prevents oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells of rats subjected to a high-cholesterol diet.

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether subchronic treatment with grape juice concentrate is able to protect liver and peripheral blood cells against cholesterol-induced injury in rats. The effects of the grape juice concentrate treatment on histopathological changes, immunohistochemistry for cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and basal and oxidative DNA damage induced by H2O2 using a single-cell gel (comet) assay were evaluated. Male Wistar rats (n 18) were divided into three groups: group 1--negative control; group 2--cholesterol at 1 % (w/w) in their diet, treated for 5 weeks; group 3--cholesterol at 1 % in their chow, treated for 5 weeks, and grape juice concentrate at 222 mg/d in their drinking-water in the final week only. The results indicated that the treatment with grape juice concentrate did not show remarkable differences regarding liver tissue in group 3 compared with group 2. However, grape juice concentrate was able to decrease oxidative DNA damage induced by H2O2 in peripheral blood cells, as depicted by the tail moment results. COX-2 expression in the liver did not show statistically significant differences (P>0·05) between groups. Taken together, the present results suggest that the administration of subchronic grape juice concentrate prevents oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells.