ANGIOTENSIN-(1-7) TREATMENT EARLY IN LIFE PREVENTS CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY IN ADULT HYPERTENSIVE RATS.

Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) is a cardioprotective peptide of the renin-angiotensin system. Pre-puberty has been considered as a later susceptible window of development and stressful factors in this life phase can induce chronic diseases in adulthood. We aimed to investigate whether the treatment with Ang-(1-7) during the pre-puberty could attenuate the development of hypertension and cardiac injury in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR were treated with Ang-(1-7) (24 µg/Kg/h) from 4 to 7 weeks of age. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography up to 17th of age. Thereafter, echocardiography was performed and the rats were euthanized for aorta reactivity assay and tissues and blood collections. Ang- (1-7) did not change the SBP and aortic reactivity but reduced the septal and posterior wall thickness, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in SHR. Additionally, Ang-(1-7) reduced the gene expression of ANP and BNP, increased the metalloproteinase 9 expression, and reduced the ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. Ang-(1-7) also prevented the reduction of Mas receptor but did not change the protein expression of ACE2, ACE, AT1, and AT2. The treatment with Ang-(1-7) decreased the MDA levels and increased SOD-1 and catalase activity and protein expression of catalase. Our findings demonstrate that the treatment of SHR with Ang-(1-7) for three weeks early in life promotes beneficial effects in the heart later in life, even without altering blood pressure, through mechanisms involving the reduction of oxidative stress and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Additionally, this study supports the pre-puberty as an important programming window.

Development of a maturity model for additive manufacturing: A conceptual model proposal.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging area with the potential to modify present business models in the near future. In contrast with conventional manufacturing (CM), AM allows the development of a product from a smaller amount of raw material, while allowing an improvement in properties in terms of weight and functionality. Its production flexibility and creativity in terms of materials have enabled not only the industry to use this technology, but also has been used in healthcare (e.g., in the production of human tissue) and by the final consumer. Despite the invaluable opportunities that this technology could provide, the uncertainties concerning its future developments and impacts on business models remain. New business models in AM will convey the need to: specialize the workforce in the design of new parts produced locally or remotely; regulation in the use and sharing of intellectual property rights by partner companies or between users; regulate the possibility of reverse engineering of highly customized products; etc. The present research proposes a conceptual maturity model to support the phases of evolution of AM in the industry, in supply chains, and in terms of open business models.

Measuring adherence to inhaled control medication in patients with asthma: Comparison among an asthma app, patient self-report and physician assessment.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using an asthma app to support medication management and adherence but failed to compare with other measures currently used in clinical practice. However, in a clinical setting, any additional adherence measurement must be evaluated in the context of both the patient and physician perspectives so that it can also help improve the process of shared decision making. Thus, we aimed to compare different measures of adherence to asthma control inhalers in clinical practice, namely through an app, patient self-report and physician assessment. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of three prospective multicentre observational studies with patients (≥13 years old) with persistent asthma recruited from 61 primary and secondary care centres in Portugal. Patients were invited to use the InspirerMundi app and register their inhaled medication. Adherence was measured by the app as the number of doses taken divided by the number of doses scheduled each day and two time points were considered for analysis: 1-week and 1-month. At baseline, patients and physicians independently assessed adherence to asthma control inhalers during the previous week using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS 0-100). RESULTS: A total of 193 patients (72% female; median [P25-P75] age 28 [19-41] years old) were included in the analysis. Adherence measured by the app was lower (1 week: 31 [0-71]%; 1 month: 18 [0-48]%) than patient self-report (80 [60-95]) and physician assessment (82 [51-94]) (p < 0.001). A negligible non-significant correlation was found between the app and subjective measurements (ρ 0.118-0.156, p > 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between patient self-report and physician assessment (ρ = 0.596, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence measured by the app was lower than that reported by the patient or the physician. This was expected as objective measurements are commonly lower than subjective evaluations, which tend to overestimate adherence. Nevertheless, the low adherence measured by the app may also be influenced by the use of the app itself and this needs to be considered in future studies.

Robust, maintainable, emergency invasive mechanical ventilator. / Ventilador mecânico invasivo de emergência resistente e de fácil manutenção.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple, robust, safe and efficient invasive mechanical ventilator that can be used in remote areas of the world or war zones where the practical utility of more sophisticated equipment is limited by considerations of maintainability, availability of parts, transportation and/or cost. METHODS: The device implements the pressure-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation mode, complemented by a simple assist-control mode. Continuous positive airway pressure is also possible. The consumption of compressed gases is minimized by avoiding a continuous flow of oxygen or air. Respiratory rates and inspiration/expiration time ratios are electronically determined, and an apnea/power loss alarm is provided. RESULTS: The pressure profiles were measured for a range of conditions and found to be adjustable within a ± 2.5cmH2O error margin and stable well within this range over a 41-hour period. Respiratory cycle timing parameters were precise within a few percentage points over the same period. The device was tested for durability for an equivalent period of four months. Chemical and biological tests failed to identify any contamination of the gas by volatile organic compounds or microorganisms. A ventilation test on a large animal, in comparison with a well established ventilator, showed that the animal could be adequately ventilated over a period of 60 minutes, without any noticeable negative aftereffects during the subsequent 24-hour period. CONCLUSION: This ventilator design may be viable, after further animal tests and formal approval by the competent authorities, for clinical application in the abovementioned atypical circumstances.

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver um ventilador mecânico invasivo simples, resistente, seguro e eficiente que possa ser utilizado em áreas remotas do mundo ou zonas de guerra, em que a utilidade prática de equipamentos mais sofisticados é limitada por questões de manutenção, disponibilidade de peças, transporte e/ou custo. MÉTODOS: O dispositivo implementa o modo de ventilação mandatória contínua com pressão controlada, complementado por um simples modo assisto-controlado. Pode-se também utilizar a pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas. Ao se evitar o fluxo contínuo de oxigênio ou ar, minimiza-se o consumo de gases comprimidos. As taxas respiratórias e as relações de tempo de inspiração e expiração são determinadas eletronicamente. Além disso, conta com um alarme de apneia/falta de energia. RESULTADOS: Os perfis de pressão foram medidos para uma série de condições, sendo considerados ajustáveis dentro de uma margem de erro de ± 2,5cmH2O, e foram considerados bem estáveis dentro dessa variação durante um período de 41 horas. Os parâmetros de tempo do ciclo respiratório foram precisos dentro de alguns pontos percentuais durante o mesmo período. O dispositivo foi testado quanto à durabilidade por um período equivalente a 4 meses. Os testes químicos e biológicos não conseguiram identificar qualquer contaminação do gás por compostos orgânicos voláteis ou micro-organismos. Em comparação com um ventilador bem estabelecido, o teste de ventilação em um animal de grande porte mostrou que este poderia ser ventilado adequadamente durante um período de 60 minutos, sem quaisquer efeitos negativos perceptíveis durante o período subsequente de 24 horas. CONCLUSÃO: Este projeto de ventilador pode ser viável após novos testes em animais e aprovação formal pelas autoridades competentes, para aplicação clínica nas circunstâncias atípicas anteriormente mencionadas.

Psychometric validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Body Image Scale ­ HIV for people living with HIV/AIDS / Validação psicométrica da versão em português brasileiro da Body Image Scale ­ HIV para pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS

Introduction: Body Image can be defined as the mental representation of body identity. The surroundings, the gaze of the other, they emotions, they integrity, and our own fragility are elements of this representation. The social stigma caused by body changes in people living with HIV / AIDS may be more intense than the fear of death itself, being important to assess the impact of these changes in the course of treatment. Objective: To perform the psychometric validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Body Image Scale - HIV for a sample of Brazilians, of both sexes, living with HIV / AIDS. Methods: The total of 450 patients were recruited from the São Bernardo do Campo HIV/AIDS program, aged between 18 and 78 years. Confirmatory factor analysis using the Unweighted Least Square and listwise deletion was used to determine the adherence of the data to the models tested. Results: Adequate coefficients of internal reliability and evidence of construct validity were established for the Brazilian version of BIS-HIV in the unifactorial model. Conclusion:This scale, with evidenced psychometric qualities, provides a useful tool for quantitative investigations of body image in people with HIV/AIDS in the Brazilian context and extends the possibility of future cross-cultural research.

Introdução: a Imagem Corporal pode ser definida como a representação mental da identidade corporal. O meio que cerca o sujeito, o olhar do outro, suas emoções, a integridade e a própria fragilidade do corpo são elementos próprios desta representação. O estigma social provocado pelas alterações corporais nas pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS pode ser mais intenso que o próprio medo da morte, sendo importante acompanhar o impacto dessas alterações do decurso do tratamento.Objetivo: realizar a validação psicométrica da versão em português brasileiro da Body Image Scale ­ HIV para uma amostra de brasileiros, de ambos os sexos, vivendo com HIV/AIDS.Método: foram recrutados 450 pacientes de um ambulatório de HIV/AIDS de São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brasil, com idades entre 18 e 78 anos. A análise fatorial confirmatória, utilizando o Unweighted Least Square e deleção listwise, foi usada para determinar a aderência dos dados aos modelos testados.Resultados: coeficientes adequados de confiabilidade interna e evidência de validade de construto foram estabelecidos para a versão brasileira da BIS-HIV no modelo unifatorial.Conclusão: a escala foi validada e com suas qualidades psicométricas evidenciadas, fornece uma ferramenta útil para investigações quantitativas da imagem corporal em pessoas com HIV/AIDS no contexto brasileiro e amplia a possibilidade de futuras pesquisas transculturais.

Investigating method effects associated with the wording direction of items of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale.

PURPOSE: The use of psychometric instruments to measure latent concepts is common. The development of these instruments usually involves mechanisms to reduce response bias, such as the inclusion of reversed items. The aim of this study was to investigate method effects related to the wording direction of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) items, a one-dimensional instrument that assesses individual's level of anxiety when others observe their body. METHODS: In total, 152 Brazilian adults (65.8% female) answered 2 formats of the SPAS: the original with 12 items (7 regular and 5 reversed); and a new format with all items written in the same direction (i.e., regular). Both formats were filled out at different times and alternately. Differential item functioning analysis (DIF) and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The original SPAS did not fit the data, but after allowing covariances between all reversed items, the fit improved. The wording effect was supported by the DIF, indicating a better fit to the data for the new format with all items worded in the same direction. CONCLUSION: The wording of the SPAS items had effect on the psychometric properties of instrument. When the wording of the reversed items was modified, the factor model fitted the data. Future studies should take these findings into account and evaluate the SPAS with all items worded in the same direction in different contexts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Descriptive (cross-sectional) study, Level V.

Ventilador mecânico invasivo de emergência resistente e de fácil manutenção / Robust, maintainable, emergency invasive mechanical ventilator

RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver um ventilador mecânico invasivo simples, resistente, seguro e eficiente que possa ser utilizado em áreas remotas do mundo ou zonas de guerra, em que a utilidade prática de equipamentos mais sofisticados é limitada por questões de manutenção, disponibilidade de peças, transporte e/ou custo. Métodos: O dispositivo implementa o modo de ventilação mandatória contínua com pressão controlada, complementado por um simples modo assisto-controlado. Pode-se também utilizar a pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas. Ao se evitar o fluxo contínuo de oxigênio ou ar, minimiza-se o consumo de gases comprimidos. As taxas respiratórias e as relações de tempo de inspiração e expiração são determinadas eletronicamente. Além disso, conta com um alarme de apneia/falta de energia. Resultados: Os perfis de pressão foram medidos para uma série de condições, sendo considerados ajustáveis dentro de uma margem de erro de ± 2,5cmH2O, e foram considerados bem estáveis dentro dessa variação durante um período de 41 horas. Os parâmetros de tempo do ciclo respiratório foram precisos dentro de alguns pontos percentuais durante o mesmo período. O dispositivo foi testado quanto à durabilidade por um período equivalente a 4 meses. Os testes químicos e biológicos não conseguiram identificar qualquer contaminação do gás por compostos orgânicos voláteis ou micro-organismos. Em comparação com um ventilador bem estabelecido, o teste de ventilação em um animal de grande porte mostrou que este poderia ser ventilado adequadamente durante um período de 60 minutos, sem quaisquer efeitos negativos perceptíveis durante o período subsequente de 24 horas. Conclusão: Este projeto de ventilador pode ser viável após novos testes em animais e aprovação formal pelas autoridades competentes, para aplicação clínica nas circunstâncias atípicas anteriormente mencionadas.

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a simple, robust, safe and efficient invasive mechanical ventilator that can be used in remote areas of the world or war zones where the practical utility of more sophisticated equipment is limited by considerations of maintainability, availability of parts, transportation and/or cost. Methods: The device implements the pressure-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation mode, complemented by a simple assist-control mode. Continuous positive airway pressure is also possible. The consumption of compressed gases is minimized by avoiding a continuous flow of oxygen or air. Respiratory rates and inspiration/expiration time ratios are electronically determined, and an apnea/power loss alarm is provided. Results: The pressure profiles were measured for a range of conditions and found to be adjustable within a ± 2.5cmH2O error margin and stable well within this range over a 41-hour period. Respiratory cycle timing parameters were precise within a few percentage points over the same period. The device was tested for durability for an equivalent period of four months. Chemical and biological tests failed to identify any contamination of the gas by volatile organic compounds or microorganisms. A ventilation test on a large animal, in comparison with a well established ventilator, showed that the animal could be adequately ventilated over a period of 60 minutes, without any noticeable negative aftereffects during the subsequent 24-hour period. Conclusion: This ventilator design may be viable, after further animal tests and formal approval by the competent authorities, for clinical application in the abovementioned atypical circumstances.

Expression, purification and preliminary characterisation of the choline transporter LicB from opportunistic bacterial pathogens.

Many opportunistic bacteria that infect the upper respiratory tract decorate their cell surface with phosphorylcholine to support colonisation and outgrowth. These surface modifications require the active import of choline from the host environment, a process thought to be mediated by a family of dedicated integral membrane proteins that act as choline permeases. Here, we present the expression and purification of the archetype of these choline transporters, LicB from Haemophilus influenzae. We show that LicB can be recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity in a stable, folded state using the detergent n-dodecyl-ß-d-maltopyranoside. Equilibrium binding studies with the fluorescent ligand dansylcholine suggest that LicB is selective towards choline, with reduced affinity for acetylcholine and no apparent activity towards other small molecules including glycine, carnitine and betaine. We also identify a conserved sequence motif within the LicB family and show that mutations within this motif compromise protein structure and function. Our results are consistent with previous observations that LicB is a specific high-affinity choline transporter, and provide an experimental platform for further studies of this permease family.

Efeitos da privação de sono na tomada de decisão em militares: uma revisão sistemática / Effects of sleep deprivation on military's decision making: a systematic review

A privação de sono é o estado ininterrupto de vigília, ocorrendo quando o sono inadequado leva à diminuição do desempenho e do estado de alerta até uma possível deterioração com efeitos danosos à saúde. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi sistematizar o conhecimento já produzido a respeito do efeito da privação de sono na tomada de decisão em militares. A revisão sistemática de literatura foi o método escolhido, seguindo os passos preconizados pelo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA). A busca foi realizada nas bases PubMed; Scopus; SciELO; biblioteca Cochrane e Web of Science. Critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram previamente definidos para seleção do material encontrado. Um total de 14 artigos, sendo a sua maioria com baixo risco de viés, foram selecionados. Os temas explorados versaram sobre perda de confiança, relativização moral, trabalho em equipe, queda de níveis cognitivos e mudança de atividade elétrica cerebral na privação de sono. As pesquisas apontam para um comprometimento importante para a tomada de decisão frente à privação ou restrição de sono nos temas investigados, evidenciando poucos recursos para minimizar esses efeitos.

Sleep deprivation is the uninterrupted state of wakefulness, occurring when inadequate sleep leads to a decrease in performance and alertness, possibly reaching a level of deterioration with harmful health effects. The aim of this research wasto systematize the knowledge produced about the effect of sleep deprivation on decision making in the military. The systematic literature review was the method chosen, following the steps recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA). The search was carried out on the following databases: PubMed; Scopus; SciELO; Cochrane library and Web of Science. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were previously defined for the selection of the found material. A total of 14 articles, most of them with a low risk of bias, were selected to compose the research results. The themes explored in these articles dealt with the loss of confidence, moral relativization, teamwork, drop-in cognitive levels, and changes in brain electrical activity in sleep deprivation. The research demonstrated significant damage to decision-making under sleep restriction or deprivation regarding the investigated topics, presenting few resources capable of minimizing these effects. There is an urge to investigate the role of physical exercise in this process and, especially, in Brazilian samples.

A Portuguese Adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale and a Test of Its Utility with Brazilian Young Adults.

The aims for this study were to perform a Portuguese language cross-cultural adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) and to evaluate the scale's psychometric properties, including verifying the frequency of behaviors characteristic of orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia, among a group of Brazilian gym users. First, we adapted the Spanish version of the TOS to the Brazilian Portuguese language following international protocols to guarantee idiomatic, semantic, conceptual, and cultural equivalence. Then participants completed both the new Portuguese version of the TOS and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Among our sample of 226 young Brazilian adults (63.7% men; M age = 28.8, SD = 5.1 years), we assessed the bi-factorial model of the TOS through factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity, reliability, and factorial invariance. We calculated the mean scores of the TOS factors and the frequency of behaviors of both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. The new Portuguese version was well understood by participants, and the TOS bi-factorial model presented adequate psychometric properties and showed invariance in independent subsamples and in men and women. The mean scores were different between sexes only for orthorexia nervosa, with women obtaining higher values. The frequency of orthorexia nervosa behaviors was 5.3% and of healthy orthorexia was 41.2%. Based on these findings, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the TOS can be a useful tool for investigating orthorexia-like behaviors in future research.

Advances in the automated synthesis of 6-[18F]Fluoro-L-DOPA.

The neurotracer 6-[18F] FDOPA has been, for many years, a powerful tool in PET imaging of neuropsychiatric diseases, movement disorders and brain malignancies. More recently, it also demonstrated good results in the diagnosis of other malignancies such as neuroendocrine tumours, pheochromocytoma or pancreatic adenocarcinoma.The multiple clinical applications of this tracer fostered a very strong interest in the development of new and improved methods for its radiosynthesis. The no-carrier-added nucleophilic 18F-fluorination process has gained increasing attention, in recent years, due to the high molar activities obtained, when compared with the other methods although the radiochemical yield remains low (17-30%). This led to the development of several nucleophilic synthetic processes in order to obtain the product with molar activity, radiochemical yield and enantiomeric purity suitable for human PET studies.Automation of the synthetic processes is crucial for routine clinical use and compliance with GMP requirements. Nevertheless, the complexity of the synthesis makes the production challenging, increasing the chance of failure in routine production. Thus, for large-scale clinical application and wider use of this radiopharmaceutical, progress in the automation of this complex radiosynthesis is of critical importance.This review summarizes the most recent developments of 6-[18F]FDOPA radiosynthesis and discusses the key issues regarding its automation for routine clinical use.

Sociocultural pressure: a model of body dissatisfaction for young women.

The aim of the study was to verify the influence of pressure from sociocultural agents on dissatisfaction with face and body in young women mediated by the internalization of the lean and muscular body and to identify the contribution of individual characteristics to this model. A total of 612 university female students participated of study. The students completed the Portuguese versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 and of the Body Area Scale-Revised and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A hypothetical model was constructed using structural equation modeling to test the relationship between the variables. The model fit and the significance of the hypothetical paths were verified. The results provide evidence that the greater the pressure of sociocultural agents and the internalization of the lean body, the more women were dissatisfied with body and face appearance. The media contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced the body dissatisfaction. The practice of physical activity and a higher economic level contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced body dissatisfaction. A higher economic level also influenced the internalization of the lean body and increased the dissatisfaction with face and body. A higher body mass index contributed to a greater pressure from sociocultural agents, greater internalization of the lean body, and greater dissatisfaction with body and face. The relationships identified in the model can contribute to the development of strategies aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in the population, such as body acceptance.

Psychometric Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Derriford Appearance Scale-24 (DAS-24) for People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The changes in appearance of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) interferes with how people around them react to their body, how social interactions take place, and how each person perceives and accepts their body. The definition of itself can be severely challenged when the body changes as a result of illness and the person does not look healthier anymore. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are an especially vulnerable group when it comes to "distress" and the psychosocial impact of appearance, yet the assessment of body image changes in these people was subjective in Brazil. The aim of this paper was to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24) for a sample of Brazilians living with HIV/AIDS. A sample of 400 patients were recruited from an HIV/AIDS ambulatory, aged between 18 and 78 years, of both sexes. The psychometric properties of DAS-24 were investigated while using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), with unweighted least square estimation and listwise deletion for missing data. The adjustment of three structural models previously established for DAS-24 (single-factor, two-factor, and three-factor) was investigated. Evidences of construct validity-convergent and discriminant-and internal consistency-Cronbach's alpha and construct reliability-were also generated for the measure model. The results showed that the one-factor model had the best adjustment, after eliminating items 8, 17, and 20, and accepting the covariance of errors between items 4 and 10; 9 and 23; 11 and 14; and, 14 and 22. Additionally, validity and reliability evidence were satisfactory for the model. The Brazilian Portuguese version of DAS-24 seems to be a psychometrically sound scale for measuring body image distress for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA).

Validação psicométrica da Social Physique Anxiety Scale para brasileiros com amputação de membros / Psychometric validation of Social Physique Anxiety Scale for Brazilian people with limb amputee

A ansiedade físico-social versa sobre a sensação de desconforto vivenciado quando há uma situação real ou imaginária, na qual parte ou todo o corpo é exposto ao julgamento de outra pessoa. Objetivo: Verificar a estrutura fatorial da versão brasileira da Social Physique Anxiety Scale em uma amostra de referência de pessoas amputadas. Métodos: Foi realizada análise fatorial confirmatória com os dados obtidos de uma amostra de 100 participantes, dos quais 99% eram homens, com idade média de 48,26 (± 18,26; máx= 82; mín= 15) anos e tempo médio de amputação de 76,36 (±95,36; máx= 504; mín= 1) meses, para averiguação do melhor ajuste entre os modelos unidimensional e bidimensional. Calculados valores da confiabilidade de constructo e do teste de alpha de Conbrach para determinar evidências de confiabilidade. Para a validade de constructo, geradas evidências de validade convergente e discriminante. Evidências de validade convergente foram geradas pela variância média extraída (AVE) e pela análise da correlação com medida de constructo semelhante. Para a validade discriminante, foi verificado se havia a diferença teoricamente esperada entre dois grupos. Resultados: O modelo com melhor ajuste foi o unidimensional após a eliminação de quatro itens (RMSEA= 0,074, χ2/gl= 1,54, CFI= 1, NFI= 0,98, NNFI= 1, AGFI= 0,98, GFI= 0,99, AIC= 62,84). As evidências de confiabilidade interna e discriminante foram satisfatoriamente geradas para o modelo de medida, havendo uma ressalva à validade convergente, com baixo valor de variância média extraída. Conclusão: A escala pode ser usada no Brasil para avaliar a ansiedade físico-social em pessoas amputadas

Physical-social anxiety is about the sensation of discomfort experienced when there is a real or imagined situation, in which part or the whole body is exposed to the judgment of another person. To verify the factorial structure of the Brazilian version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale in a reference sample of amputees. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed with data obtained from a sample of 100 participants, 99% of whom were men, with an average age of 48.26 (± 18.26; max= 82; min= 15) years, and time average amputation of 76.36 (± 95.36; max= 504; min= 1) months, to determine the best fit between the one-dimensional and two-dimensional models. Construct reliability values and Conbrach's alpha test were calculated to determine evidence of reliability. For construct validity, evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was generated. Evidence of convergent validity was generated by the average extracted variance (AVE) and by the analysis of the correlation with a similar construct measure. For the discriminant validity, it was verified if there was a theoretically expected difference between two groups. The model with the best fit was the one-dimensional model after the elimination of four items (RMSEA= 0.074, χ2/df= 1.54, CFI= 1, NFI= 0.98, NNFI= 1, AGFI= 0.98, GFI= 0.99, AIC= 62.84). Evidence of internal and discriminant reliability was satisfactorily generated for the measurement model, with a caveat to convergent validity, with a low value of the extracted average variance. The scale can be used in Brazil to assess physical and social anxiety in amputees

A psychometric investigation of Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Caregiver Eating Messages Scale and Intuitive Eating Scale-2.

The Caregiver Eating Messages Scale (CEMS) was developed to assess perceived restrictive or critical caregiver messages in relation to food intake and pressure to eat, whereas the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) measures one's tendency to follow internal cues of hunger and satiety when making eating-related decisions. Both scales are useful in the arsenal of eating behaviour scholars. Here, we developed Brazilian Portuguese translations of both scales and assessed their psychometric properties in Brazilian adults. A total of 288 participants (men = 52.8%) completed the CEMS, IES-2, Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and a demographic questionnaire. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the factor structure of both scales had adequate fit following the elimination of items and addition of covariances. Evidence of adequate factorial, convergent and discriminant validity, as well as reliability was identified. Furthermore, correlations of CEMS and IES-2 with BAS scores and body mass index were obtained. Both instruments' models were found to be invariant across sex, with men having significantly higher scores on three subscales of the IES-2 only. These results provide evidence for the psychometric properties of the CEMS and IES-2 in Brazilian Portuguese-speaking adults.Level of Evidence: V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Sociocultural pressure: a model of body dissatisfaction for young women / Pressão sociocultural: um modelo de insatisfação corporal para mulheres jovens / Presión sociocultural: un modelo de insatisfacción corporal para mujeres jóvenes

Abstract: The aim of the study was to verify the influence of pressure from sociocultural agents on dissatisfaction with face and body in young women mediated by the internalization of the lean and muscular body and to identify the contribution of individual characteristics to this model. A total of 612 university female students participated of study. The students completed the Portuguese versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 and of the Body Area Scale-Revised and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A hypothetical model was constructed using structural equation modeling to test the relationship between the variables. The model fit and the significance of the hypothetical paths were verified. The results provide evidence that the greater the pressure of sociocultural agents and the internalization of the lean body, the more women were dissatisfied with body and face appearance. The media contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced the body dissatisfaction. The practice of physical activity and a higher economic level contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced body dissatisfaction. A higher economic level also influenced the internalization of the lean body and increased the dissatisfaction with face and body. A higher body mass index contributed to a greater pressure from sociocultural agents, greater internalization of the lean body, and greater dissatisfaction with body and face. The relationships identified in the model can contribute to the development of strategies aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in the population, such as body acceptance.

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a influência da pressão de agentes socioculturais na insatisfação com o rosto e o corpo em mulheres jovens mediada pela internalização do corpo magro e musculoso e identificar a contribuição das características individuais para esse modelo. Um total de 612 estudantes universitárias participaram do estudo. As alunas responderam às versões em português do Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 e da Body Area Scale-Revised e um questionário sociodemográfico. Um modelo hipotético foi construído usando modelagem de equações estruturais para testar a relação entre as variáveis. O ajuste do modelo e a significância dos caminhos hipotéticos foram verificados. Os resultados fornecem evidências de que quanto maior a pressão dos agentes socioculturais e a internalização do corpo magro, mais as mulheres ficam insatisfeitas com a aparência corporal e facial. A mídia contribuiu para uma maior internalização do corpo muscular, o que diminuiu a insatisfação corporal. A prática de atividade física e um maior nível econômico contribuíram para uma maior internalização da musculatura corporal, o que reduziu a insatisfação corporal. Um nível econômico mais elevado também influenciou na internalização do corpo magro e aumentou a insatisfação com o rosto e o corpo. O maior índice de massa corporal contribuiu para uma maior pressão dos agentes socioculturais, maior internalização do corpo magro e maior insatisfação com o corpo e a face. As relações identificadas no modelo podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de estratégias que visem reduzir a insatisfação corporal e os transtornos alimentares na população, como a aceitação corporal.

Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar la influencia de la presión de agentes socioculturales en la insatisfacción con el rostro y el cuerpo en mujeres jóvenes, mediadas por la internalización de un cuerpo esbelto y musculoso, así como para identificar la contribución de las características individuales a este modelo. Un total de 612 mujeres universitarias participaron en el estudio. Las estudiantes completaron las versiones en portugués Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 y del Body Area Scale-Revised y un cuestionario sociodemográfico. El modelo hipotético fue construido usando un modelado de ecuación estructural para probar la relación entre las variables. Se verificaron tanto el modelo ajustado, como la significancia de los recorridos hipotéticos. Los resultados proporcionan evidencias que cuanto mayor es la presión de los agentes socioculturales y la internalización de un cuerpo esbelto, mayor es la insatisfacción de las mujeres con la apariencia de su cuerpo y rostro. La media contribuyó a una mayor internalización del cuerpo musculoso, que redujo la insatisfacción con el cuerpo. La práctica de actividad física y un nivel económico más alto contribuyeron a una internalización más grande de un cuerpo musculoso, lo que redujo la insatisfacción con el cuerpo. Un nivel económico más alto también influenció en la internalización de un cuerpo esbelto e incrementó la insatisfacción con la cara y el cuerpo. Un mayor índice de masa corporal contribuyó a una mayor presión de los agentes socioculturales, y una mayor internalización de un cuerpo esbelto, así como una mayor insatisfacción con el cuerpo y la cara. Las relaciones identificadas en el modelo pueden contribuir al desarrollo de estrategias, con el objetivo de reducir la insatisfacción corporal y los desórdenes alimenticios en la población, tales como la aceptación corporal.

A positron-emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) platform to track in vivo small extracellular vesicles.

Here we report a two-step surface modification methodology to radiolabel small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) with 64CuCl2 for PET/MRI imaging. The modification did not change or damage the morphology, surface receptor proteins and internal RNA content. Radiolabeled SEVs could be detected in organs with low accumulation such as the brain (0.4-0.5% ID g-1) and their brain location determined by MRI.

Relação entre antropometría, gordura corporal e autoconceito de adolescentes do sexo feminino / Relationship between anthropometry, body fat and self concept of femaly sex adolescents / Relación entre antropometría, gordura corporal y autoconceito de adolescentes del sexo femenino

O excesso de peso causado pelo acúmulo de gordura corporal e a circunferência de cintura aumentada podem ocasionar riscos à saúde dos jovens, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de problemas psicossociais precoces e redução da qualidade de vida do adolescente. Nesse contexto, o autoconceito é um importante indicador de bem-estar psicológico, principalmente na idade jovem. Dentre os inúmeros fatores que podem contribuir para a percepção do autoconceito está a composição corporal, que é constantemente modificada nessa fase da vida. Nesse sentido, o acúmulo excessivo de gordura corporal e o aumento da circunferência abdominal podem estar associadas a autoconceitos positivos ou negativos sobre si mesmo, favorecendo o desenvolvimento de fatores psicossociais da população jovem em prol de comportamentos saudáveis ou não. Assim, esse trabalho buscou analisar a relação da circunferência de cintura, o percentual de gordura e o autoconceito físico e global de adolescentes do sexo feminino. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo transversal com a participação de 101 adolescentes do sexo feminino, estudantes do Ensino Médio de uma Escola Técnica Estadual da cidade de São Paulo. Foi utilizada a escala de Autopercepção de Harter para Adolescentes validada para adolescentes Brasileiros, nas dimensões do autoconceito físico e global, e aferidas medidas antropométricas de massa corporal e estatura para a verificação do IMC (índice de massa corporal), pregas cutâneas para o percentual de gordura e perímetros para a circunferência de cintura. Foi encontrada uma correlação pequena e inversa entre as variáveis autoconceito físico e circunferência de cintura corroborando com outros estudos que apontaram resultados similares

Excess weight caused by accumulation of body fat and increased waist circumference can cause health risks for young people, contributing to the development of early psychosocial problems and reduced quality of life of adolescents. In this context, self-concept is an important indicator of psychological well-being, especially in young age. Among the many factors that may contribute to the perception of self-concept is the body composition, which is constantly modified in this phase of life. In this sense, excessive accumulation of body fat and increased abdominal circumference may be associated with positive or negative self-concepts, favoring the development of psychosocial factors in the young population for healthy behaviors. Thus, this study sought to analyze the relationship of waist circumference, fat percentage and the physical and global self-concept of female adolescents. For that, a cross-sectional study was carried out with the participation of 101 female adolescents, students of the High School of a State Technical School of the city of São Paulo. The Harter self-perception scalefor adolescents was validated for Brazilian adolescents, in the dimensions of physical and global self-concept, and anthropometric measures of body mass and height were checked for BMI (body mass index), skin folds for the percentage of fat and perimetersfor waist circumference. A small inverse correlation was found between the variables physical self-concept and waist circumference corroborating with other studies that indicated similar results

El exceso de peso causado por la acumulación de grasa corporal y la circunferencia de cintura aumentada pueden ocasionar riesgos para la salud de los jóvenes, contribuyendo al desarrollo de problemas psicosociales precoces y reducción de la calidad de vida del adolescente. En ese contexto, el autoconcepto es un importante indicador de bienestar psicológico, principalmente en la edad joven. Entre los innumerables factores que pueden contribuir a la percepción del autoconcepto está la composición corporal, que es constantemente modificada en esa fase de la vida. En este sentido, la acumulación excesiva de grasa corporal y el aumento de la circunferencia abdominal pueden estar asociadas a autoconceptos positivos o negativos sobre sí mismo, favoreciendo el desarrollo de factores psicosociales de la población joven en pro de comportamientos sanos o no. Así, ese trabajo buscó analizar la relación de la circunferencia de cintura, el porcentaje de grasa y el autoconcepto físico y global de adolescentes del sexo femenino. Para ello, se realizó un estudio transversal con la participación de 101 adolescentes del sexo femenino, estudiantes de la Enseñanza Media de una Escuela Técnica Estadual de la ciudad de São Paulo. Se utilizó la escala de Autopercepción de Harter para Adolescentes validada para adolescentes brasileños, en las dimensiones del autoconcepto físico y global, y medidas medidas antropométricas de masa corporal y estatura para la verificación del IMC (índice de masa corporal), pliegues cutáneos para el porcentual de masa corporal grasa y perímetros para la circunferencia de cintura. Se encontró una correlación pequeña e inversa entre las variables autoconcepto físico y circunferencia de cintura corroborando con otros estudios que apuntar resultados similares

Cross Cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese language of Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24) for people living with HIV/AIDS / Adaptação cultural em Português Brasileiro da Derriford Appearance Scale - 24 (DAS-24) para pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION: Body image can be defined as the representation of beliefs, emotions and perceptions about the body itself, manifested in behaviors directed to the body. When the body changes because of a disease and does not seem healthy, the self-concept may be severely challenged. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are particularly vulnerable to the distress and psychosocial impact of appearance, but in Brazil the assessment of those body image changes was subjective because there was not an available scale in Brazilian Portuguese to assess body image changes in clinical practice or research. OBJECTIVE: To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation to the Brazilian Portuguese of the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), with the verification of the linguistic, semantic, conceptual and cultural equivalence of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil METHODS: We followed the five stages of culturally sensitive translation: direct translations, synthesis of translations, back-translations, expert committee meeting and pre-tests. The process of cultural adaptation was presented in a descriptive and analytical way, following patterns of methodological studies. The minimum, maximum and median values of the responses of each item were calculated from the pool of data from the third pretest group of 50 participants. The median of the item scores, the correlation on each item with the total score and the internal reliability, were calculated using the Cronbach alpha test. RESULTS: The analysis of the responses of the last pre-test group indicated that attention must be given to items A, H, T and V in a future psychometric study. The present study is not enough for this scale to be used in clinical practice. To ensure that the culturally adapted instrument generates valid and reliable data, a subsequent study investigating its psychometric properties should be conducted. CONCLUSION: The cross-cultural adaptation of the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24) in its components of linguistic, semantic, conceptual and cultural equivalence to Brazilian Portuguese for the population of people living with HIV/AIDS was fully carried out. Despite this achievement, it is emphasized that the use of the Brazilian version of DAS-24 in research and clinical routine is advised only after a psychometric study with this instrument.

INTRODUÇÃO: A imagem corporal pode ser definida como a representação das crenças, emoções e percepções a respeito do próprio corpo, manifesta em comportamentos voltados ao corpo. Quando o corpo muda como consequência de doença e não parece mais saudável, a definição de si mesmo pode ser severamente desafiada. As pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) são um público especialmente vulnerável quando se trata do "distress" e do impacto psicossocial da aparência, mas a avaliação destas alterações de imagem corporal era subjetiva porque não havia nenhuma escala em Português Brasileiro para avaliar alterações da imagem disponível para uso clínico ou para pesquisa. OBJETIVO: Realizar a adaptação transcultural para o português Brasileiro da Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), com a verificação da equivalência idiomática, semântica, conceitual e cultural, para o público-alvo pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) no Brasil MÉTODO: Seguiu-se guia de cinco etapas para adaptação de escala transcultural: traduções, síntese de traduções, retrotraduções, reunião de comitê de especialistas e pré-testes. O processo de adaptação cultural foi apresentado de forma descritiva e analítica, seguindo padrões de estudos metodológicos. Os valores mínimo, máximo e mediano das respostas de cada item foram calculados a partir do pool de dados do terceiro grupo de pré-teste de 50 participantes. A mediana dos escores dos itens, a correlação de cada item com o escore total e a confiabilidade interna foram calculados pelo teste alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADO: A análise das respostas do último grupo pré-teste indicou que deve ser dada atenção aos itens A, B, G, H e K em um futuro estudo psicométrico. O presente estudo não é suficiente para que essa escala seja utilizada na prática clínica. Para garantir que o instrumento culturalmente adaptado gere dados válidos e confiáveis, um estudo subsequente que investigue suas propriedades psicométricas deve ser conduzido. CONCLUSÃO: A adaptação transcultural da Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), em seus componentes de equivalência linguística, semântica, conceitual e cultural para o português brasileiro para a população de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS foi plenamente realizada. Apesar dessa conquista, ressalta-se que o uso da versão brasileira do DAS-24 em pesquisa e rotina clínica é aconselhado somente após um estudo psicométrico com este instrumento.