The best of two worlds: Combining the DSM-5 and ICD-11 clusters of symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder in a single screening scale.

OBJECTIVES: The most recent DSM-5 (2013) and ICD-11 (2018) diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encompass 20 and six symptoms, respectively, organized in different structures. This study aimed to investigate the dimensions of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 (PCL-5) according to the DSM-5's broader definition of PTSD and the ICD-11's narrower approach, as well as to explore an alternative restricted model that retains the core symptoms explicitly related to traumatic experiences. METHODS: Data were gathered from Brazilian employees (n=1,101) who had directly experienced traumatic life events or had been exposed to them because of their work activities. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to evaluate the configural and metric structures of the models. RESULTS: We estimated seven models of the latent structure of PTSD including the four-factor DSM-5 and three-factor ICD-11 PTSD models. Given the lack of evidence of their validity, an alternative 10-symptom model was tested. The final seven-item PTSD model considerably improved estimation of the PTSD construct. This solution showed reliable items with non-redundant content, acceptable fit indices, and satisfactory configural and metric properties. CONCLUSION: The more parsimonious one-dimensional model comprising the core PTSD symptoms has the potential to improve assessment of PTSD.

The best of two worlds: Combining the DSM-5 and ICD-11 clusters of symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder in a single screening scale

Objectives: The most recent DSM-5 (2013) and ICD-11 (2018) diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encompass 20 and six symptoms, respectively, organized in different structures. This study aimed to investigate the dimensions of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 (PCL-5) according to the DSM-5's broader definition of PTSD and the ICD-11's narrower approach, as well as to explore an alternative restricted model that retains the core symptoms explicitly related to traumatic experiences. Methods: Data were gathered from Brazilian employees (n=1,101) who had directly experienced traumatic life events or had been exposed to them because of their work activities. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to evaluate the configural and metric structures of the models. Results: We estimated seven models of the latent structure of PTSD including the four-factor DSM-5 and three-factor ICD-11 PTSD models. Given the lack of evidence of their validity, an alternative 10-symptom model was tested. The final seven-item PTSD model considerably improved estimation of the PTSD construct. This solution showed reliable items with non-redundant content, acceptable fit indices, and satisfactory configural and metric properties. Conclusion: The more parsimonious one-dimensional model comprising the core PTSD symptoms has the potential to improve assessment of PTSD.

Development and content validation of the medication literacy test for older adults (TELUMI).

OBJECTIVES: Medication literacy comprises the skills needed to access, understand, and act on medication information. Low medication literacy is frequent among older adults, making them more susceptible to negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the content validity of an instrument to measure medication literacy in this population. METHOD: Multistage methodological study. Items were generated according to a conceptual model and a literature review. The instrument was submitted to a panel of experts to assess item's relevance, clarity, and theoretical classification. Subsequently, the instrument was applied to the target population to assess its comprehensibility. RESULTS: Content Validity Index results indicated excellent agreement among experts on the instrument's relevance (0.98) and clarity (0.91). Overall agreement between experts regarding the theoretical subdimensions was moderate [Fleiss' kappa=0.57 (p = 0.00)]. Items were reported to be fully understood by most representatives of the target population. The final version of the instrument had 33 items divided into eight scenarios of medication use. CONCLUSION: The instrument seems to have adequate content validity and good suitability for the target population. Therefore, it can help health professionals to identify older adults with low medication literacy, aiming to improve their medication use skills.

Maternal low-protein diet reduces skeletal muscle protein synthesis and mass via Akt-mTOR pathway in adult rats.

Several studies have demonstrated that a maternal low-protein diet induces long-term metabolic disorders, but the involved mechanisms are unclear. This study investigated the molecular effects of a low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation on glucose and protein metabolism in soleus muscle isolated from adult male rats. Female rats were fed either a normal protein diet or low-protein diet during gestation and lactation. After weaning, all pups were fed a normal protein diet until the 210th day postpartum. In the 7th month of life, mass, contractile function, protein and glucose metabolism, and the Akt-mTOR pathway were measured in the soleus muscles of male pups. Dry weight and contractile function of soleus muscle in the low-protein diet group rats were found to be lower compared to the control group. Lipid synthesis was evaluated by measuring palmitate incorporation in white adipose tissue. Palmitate incorporation was higher in the white adipose tissue of the low-protein diet group. When incubated soleus muscles were stimulated with insulin, protein synthesis, total amino acid incorporation and free amino acid content, glucose incorporation and uptake, and glycogen synthesis were found to be reduced in low-protein diet group rats. Fasting glycemia was higher in the low-protein diet group. These metabolic changes were associated with a decrease in Akt and GSK-3ß signaling responses to insulin and a reduction in RPS6 in the absence of the hormone. There was also notably lower expression of Akt in the isolated soleus muscle of low-protein diet group rats. This study is the first to demonstrate how maternal diet restriction can reduce skeletal muscle protein and mass by downregulating the Akt-mTOR pathway in adulthood.

Naltrexone/bupropion modifies weight, food intake, and Drd2 gene expression in rats.

Obesogenic diets are known to induce obesity and changes in food intake in experimental animals. Obesity negatively affects the peripheral metabolism and neural aspects, such as changes in eating behavior. In obese animals, dopamine (DA) receptor levels are reduced. DA is one of the main peptides involved in the motivation and pleasure of eating. A combination of naltrexone/bupropion (NB) has shown promise in controlling metabolic alterations, but there are few studies on how they modulate dopaminergic expression. NB, in addition to reducing food intake and body weight, can modify tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) and DA receptor D2 (Drd2) levels in the mesolimbic areas of rats submitted to a high-fat diet (HF). The study evaluated the effect of NB on food intake, body weight, and expression levels of Th, Drd1a, and Drd2, in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of rats fed on HF diet. Wistar rats were grouped according to diet: standard (n = 20) and HF diet (n = 20). The food intake and body weight were analyzed. The gene expression of Th, Drd1a, and Drd2 was evaluated using real-time PCR. NB combination of 1 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg reduced food intake and body weight, increased Drd2 expression in rats on HF diet, and increased Th in rats on both experimental diets. The level of Drd1a was unchanged. We concluded that bodyweight reduction may be associated with decreased food intake in response to the increased Drd2 expression in the mesolimbic areas of rats that received an HF diet.

Evidence of validity of the revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire based on the internal structure in a Brazilian clinical sample.

The revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAq-II) is among the most used instruments that measure therapeutic alliance. Despite its use in research, this instrument is not validated for the Brazilian population. The aim of this study was to explore the evidence of validity of the HAq-II based on the internal structure in a sample of Brazilian psychiatric patients. An ambulatory convenience sample of 204 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 81 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was randomized between two different types of treatment. The HAq-II was completed by patients (patient version) and by 33 therapists who performed the interventions (therapist version) between the second and third sessions. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to investigate two models: (1) a one-dimensional therapeutic alliance model and (2) a two-dimensional model considering the factors 'positive alliance' and 'negative alliance'. The internal consistency of the HAq-II was measured by Cronbach's alpha. To investigate discriminant validity, we used the t-test for independent samples, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The analysis showed that the best model of the instrument was one-dimensional. Cronbach's alpha for both versions displayed values above 0.89. The Brazilian version of the HAq-II presented properties similar to those found in the original version. However, studies related to the one-dimensional model with other samples are necessary.

Work-related factors in the etiology of symptoms of post-traumatic stress among first responders: the Brazilian Firefighters Longitudinal Health Study (FLoHS).

Two important aspects must be accounted for when discussing the mental health of first responders and, in particular, their report of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The first concerns the provision of quantitative data from longitudinal study designs, the second concerns the sophistication of the work-related model used to frame such studies. This is a report on the development of a model for Brazilian firefighters who also work as first responders, from the establishment of a longitudinal panel design study, the Brazilian Firefighter Longitudinal Health Study (FLoHS). The first objective was to compare trainee and active firefighters based on their follow-up data with a nationwide sample of similarly aged Brazilians. The second was to test the effect that operational and organizational experiences had on firefighters' PTSS level during follow up. At baseline, trainee firefighters came from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, were healthier and less exposed to trauma compared to a similarly aged national sample. At follow up, they reported higher prevalence of smoking, sleep problems, anhedonia and were more likely to be overweight. PTSS was predicted by operational and organizational stressors, even when controlled for health status at baseline. The results present not only the differences in the predictive status of operational and organizational events in relation to PTSS, but also how the effects of such events might interact. The data suggest the need for evidence-based interventions, support provided and changes at work environments to improve report rates for mental health in general and for PTSS in particular.

Blockade of Opiodergic System During Early Weaning Reverts Feeding Behavior Altered Patterns.

Adverse experiences that occur during the early stages of life can have permanent repercussions in adulthood. Among these experiences, early weaning is one that can alter the molecular, cellular, and behavior patterns in later life. Centered on this fact, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of early weaning at 15 days of life of Wistar rats on their feeding behavior and if the opioidergic system blockade would cause a reversal of these outcomes. Experimental groups were formed based on the weaning period of each litter. On postnatal day 15, the group D15 was weaned and, on postnatal day 30 (natural weaning), the group D30 was weaned. The rats weaned on postnatal day 15, and administered subcutaneous Naltrexone (3 mg/kg) were from group D15 + NTX. Those weaned at 15 days of age exhibited higher depressive-like behavior, lesser reactivity time to sucrose, and higher intake of palatable food than the control group. The Naltrexone administration was observed to reverse some outcomes, such as increasing the reactivity time to sucrose and decreasing the quantity of palatable food consumed, to levels similar to those of the control group. Together, the findings of the present study are indicative of the vital role played by the opioidergic system in inducing the changes noted in the eating behavior patterns during adulthood, post early weaning.

Time-restricted feeding in dark phase of circadian cycle and/or westernized diet cause mixed hyperlipidemia in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Background: the dietary pattern that characterizes western diet is strongly associated with metabolic diseases and excess weight, as well as chronic illnesses. Misaligned feeding schedules can lead to or aggravate the development of such conditions. Aim: this study evaluated the influence of dietary composition and/or time-restricted feeding on the anthropometric and biochemical profile of adult rats. Methods: forty male rats, at 60 days of life, were divided into the following groups: Control (C), Restricted Control (RC), Westernized (W), and Restricted Westernized (RW). Results: westernized groups, in spite of a low energy intake (C = 5399 ± 401.2 kcal; RC = 4279.0 ± 476.2 kcal; W = 4302 ± 619.8 kcal; RW = 4081.0 ± 404.4 kcal, p < 0.001), had a higher body weight (C = 404.6 ± 39.1 g; RC = 335.1 ± 36.5 g; W = 488.9 ± 51.2 g; RW = 438.8 ± 36.5 g, p < 0.001) as compared to their paired controls (RC and C) - around 30 % and 20 % more for RW and W, respectively. The westernized diet caused glucose intolerance and mixed hyperlipidemia, characterized by higher concentrations of cholesterol (C = 40.8 ± 7.4 mg/dL; RC = 76.7 ± 10.8 mg/dL; W = 61.3 ± 20.2 mg/dL; RW = 42.2 ± 8.2 mg/dL), LDLc (C = 17.4 ± 7.5 mg/dL; RC = 38.8 ± 7.2 mg/dL ; W = 45.3 ± 15.8 mg/dL; RW = 11.0 ± 5.8 mg/dL), and triacylglycerol (C = 45.2 ± 15.0 mg/dL; RC = 73.2 ± 21.5 mg/dL ; W = 83.6 ± 23.4 mg/dL; RW = 57.5 ± 13.6 mg/dL) in the serum (p < 0.05). Conclusion: the effect of time-restricted feeding on body weight was strongly dependent on diet composition. The glucose tolerance test showed an influence of the circadian cycle phase. Mixed hyperlipidemia varied according to the presence of westernized diet and/or time-restricted food.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: el patrón dietético que caracteriza a la dieta occidental está fuertemente asociado con las enfermedades metabólicas, así como con el sobrepeso y las enfermedades crónicas. Los horarios de alimentación desorganizados pueden conducir o agravar el desarrollo de tales trastornos. Objetivo: este estudio evaluó la influencia de la composición dietética y/o la alimentación restringida en el perfil antropométrico y bioquímico de ratas adultas. Métodos: cuarenta ratas macho, a los 60 días de vida, se dividieron en los seguientes grupos: control (C); control restringido (RC); occidentalizado (W) y occidentalizado restringido (RW). Resultados: los grupos occidentalizados, a pesar de la baja ingesta energética (C = 5399 ± 401,2 kcal; RC = 4279,0 ± 476,2 kcal; W = 4302 ± 619,8 kcal; RW = 4081,0 ± 404,4 kcal, p < 0,001), tuvieron mayor peso corporal (C = 404,6 ± 39,1 g; RC = 335,1 ± 36,5 g; W = 488,9 ± 51,2 g; RW = 438,8 ± 36,5 g, p < 0,001) que los respectivos grupos de control (RC y C): alrededor de un 30 % y un 20 % más para RW y W, respectivamente. La dieta occidentalizada provocó intolerancia a la glucosa e hiperlipidemia mixta, caracterizada por una mayor concentración de colesterol (C = 40,8 ± 7,4 mg/dL; RC = 76,7 ± 10,8 mg/dL; W = 61,3 ± 20,2 mg/dL; RW = 42,2 ± 8,2 mg/dL), cLDL (C = 17,4 ± 7,5 mg/dL; RC = 38,8 ± 7,2 mg/dL; W = 45,3 ± 15,8 mg/dL; RW = 11,0 ± 5,8 mg/dL) y triacilglicerol (C = 45,2 ± 15,0 mg/dL; RC = 73,2 ± 21,5 mg/dL; W = 83,6 ± 23,4 mg/dL; RW = 57,5 ± 13,6 mg/dL) en el suero (p < 0,05). Conclusión: el efecto de la alimentación restringida en el tiempo sobre el peso corporal fue muy dependiente de la composición de la dieta. La prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa mostró la influencia de la fase del ciclo circadiano. La hiperlipidemia mixta varió según la presencia de la dieta occidentalizada y/o la comida con restricción de tiempo.

Work-related factors in the etiology of symptoms of post-traumatic stress among first responders: the Brazilian Firefighters Longitudinal Health Study (FLoHS) / Fatores relacionados ao trabalho na etiologia de sintomas de estresse pós-traumático entre socorristas: o Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde em Bombeiros Brasileiros (FLoHS) / Factores laborales relacionados con la etiología de síntomas de estrés postraumático entre trabajadores de primeros auxilios: el Estudio Longitudinal de Salud en Bomberos Brasileños (FLoHS)

Abstract: Two important aspects must be accounted for when discussing the mental health of first responders and, in particular, their report of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The first concerns the provision of quantitative data from longitudinal study designs, the second concerns the sophistication of the work-related model used to frame such studies. This is a report on the development of a model for Brazilian firefighters who also work as first responders, from the establishment of a longitudinal panel design study, the Brazilian Firefighter Longitudinal Health Study (FLoHS). The first objective was to compare trainee and active firefighters based on their follow-up data with a nationwide sample of similarly aged Brazilians. The second was to test the effect that operational and organizational experiences had on firefighters' PTSS level during follow up. At baseline, trainee firefighters came from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, were healthier and less exposed to trauma compared to a similarly aged national sample. At follow up, they reported higher prevalence of smoking, sleep problems, anhedonia and were more likely to be overweight. PTSS was predicted by operational and organizational stressors, even when controlled for health status at baseline. The results present not only the differences in the predictive status of operational and organizational events in relation to PTSS, but also how the effects of such events might interact. The data suggest the need for evidence-based interventions, support provided and changes at work environments to improve report rates for mental health in general and for PTSS in particular.

Resumo: Há duas questões subjacentes importantes na saúde mental dos socorristas, e particularmente em seu relato de sintomas de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). A primeira diz respeito à produção de dados quantitativos a partir do delineamento de estudos longitudinais, e a segunda está relacionada à sofisticação do modelo relacionado ao trabalho para contextualizar tais estudos. O artigo aborda o desenvolvimento de um modelo para bombeiros brasileiros, que também são socorristas, através do estabelecimento de um estudo com delineamento de painel longitudinal, chamado Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde em Bombeiros Brasileiros (FLoHS). O primeiro objetivo foi a comparação de bombeiros estagiários versus efetivados com base em dados de seguimento com uma amostra nacional de brasileiros com idades semelhantes. O segundo objetivo foi testar o efeito das experiências operacionais e organizacionais sobre os níveis de sintomas de TEPT nos bombeiros durante o seguimento. Na linha de base, os bombeiros estagiários vinham de origens socioeconômicas mais favoráveis e eram mais saudáveis e menos expostos a trauma, em comparação com uma amostra nacional da população com idade semelhante. No seguimento, os estagiários relatavam maior prevalência de tabagismo, problemas de sono, anedonia e maior sobrepeso. Os sintomas de TEPT eram previstos por estressores operacionais e organizacionais, mesmo despois de controlar para o estado de saúde na linha de base. Os resultados apontaram não apenas para diferenças no estado preditivo dos eventos operacionais e organizacionais em relação aos sintomas de TEPT, como também, para a maneira pela qual esses eventos podem interagir em termos de efeitos. Assim, os dados sugerem intervenções baseadas em evidências, apoio através do trabalho e organização do trabalho que possam melhorar as taxas de notificação para saúde mental em geral e sintomas de TEPT em particular.

Resumen: Existen dos importantes temas subyacentes a la salud mental de los trabajadores de primeros auxilios y, uno en particular, es la manifestación de síntomas de estrés postraumático (PTSS). El primero está relacionado con la provisión de datos cuantitativos, procedentes de estudios de diseños longitudinales, y, el segundo, con la sofisticación según el modelo de trabajo usado para enmarcar tales estudios. Este trabajo informó del desarrollo de un modelo para los bomberos brasileños, que también son trabajadores de primeros auxilios, mediante el establecimiento de un estudio de diseño longitudinal: el Estudio Longitudinal de Salud en Bomberos Brasileños (FloHS). El primer objetivo fue comparar bomberos entrenados y activos, basándonos en sus datos de seguimiento, con una muestra nacional de brasileños en edades similares. El segundo objetivo fue probar el efecto que las experiencias operacionales y organizativas tuvieron en el nivel de PTSS entre los bomberos durante el seguimiento. En la base de referencia, los bomberos entrenados contaban con antecedentes socioeconómicos más altos, estaban más sanos y menos expuestos al trauma, cuando se comparan con una muestra nacional de población en edad similar. Durante el seguimiento, informaron de una prevalencia más alta de fumadores, problemas de sueño, anhedonia y tenían más probabilidad de tener sobrepeso. Los PTSS se predijeron mediante estresores operacionales y organizativos, incluso controlando el estatus de salud en la base de referencia. Los resultados apuntaron no solo las diferencias en el estatus predictivo de eventos operacionales y organizativos, en relación con PTSS, sino también la forma en la que tal vez tales eventos interactúan en sus efectos. De este modo, los datos animan intervenciones basadas en la evidencia, además de apoyo mediante el trabajo y diseño de intervenciones, que tal vez mejore las tasas de informes para la salud mental en general y para los PTSS en particular.

Early weaning disrupts feeding patterns in female juvenile rats through 5HT-system modulations.

Convergent evidence in literature shows that rapid disruption of maternal care and breastfeeding due to an early weaning protocol changes the development of several neurobehavioral patterns in rodents, including the circadian pattern of feeding. The serotoninergic system has been associated with the control of feeding patterns. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the patterns of feeding, the mRNA expression of 5 H T-1b, 5 H T-2c, and SERT on the hypothalamus, brainstem, and the body weight of female juvenile Wistar rats, submitted to early (PND15) or regular (PND30) weaning. The results demonstrate that early weaning promotes an increase in food intake in a 24 -h period, in the dark phase of the circadian cycle and in the four-hour time intervals at the beginning of the dark and light phases. Also, early weaning decreases the mRNA expression of 5 H T-1b, 5 H T-2c, and SERT on the hypothalamus, but increases it on the brainstem. Additionally, early weaning promotes an increase in body weight. Therefore, the present data demonstrate that early weaning changes the patterns of feeding in juvenile female rats and suggests that this behavioral modification is due to the modulations promoted in the 5 H T-system.

Routine Psychological Testing of the Individual Is Not Valid.

In this article, we present and argue our assertion that current routine psychological testing of individuals is not valid. To support our assertion, we review the concept of ergodicity, Birkhoff's theorem, and Molenaar's manifesto, which together support our contention that the direct transposition of population estimations for producing inferences about the individual is not valid. We argue that this practice of direct transposition is the root cause of why routine psychological testing of individual is not valid. We then provide an example of a common application of psychological testing of an individual, explaining why this practice is not valid. Finally, we discuss how the intraindividual (or within-person) approach provides some prospect for valid individual testing and also introduces new challenges. We hope that our questioning of current psychological testing practices motivates researchers to propose and study novel methodological propositions to address the issues raised by our assertion.

Effects of perinatal protein malnutrition and fenfluramine action on food intake and neuronal activation in the hypothalamus and raphe nuclei of neonate rats.

In neonatal rats, hunger and satiety responses occur particularly via dehydration and gastric distention, respectively. The control of food intake in newborns is yet to be fully consolidated, particularly with respect to the participation of the hypothalamic nuclei and their relationship with the serotonergic pathway. Moreover, it is unclear how the environmental stressors in early life, like undernutrition, interfere in these events. Therefore, this study examined the serotonin-system's impact on food intake in rat neonates at postnatal day (P) 10 and P18 and the manner in which protein undernutrition during pregnancy and lactation interferes in this behavior. To accomplish this, Wistar rats were used, nutritionally manipulated by a diet having two protein levels, (8% and 17%) during pregnancy and lactation, to form the Control (n=10) and Low protein groups (n=10). At 10 and 18 postnatal days pups received an acute dose of fenfluramine (3mg/kg) or saline (0.9% NaCl) and subjected to milk consumption testing and then perfused to obtain the brains for the analysis of cell activation of the immunoreactive c-Fos in the hypothalamic and raphe nuclei. At 10days a reduction in weight gain was observed in both groups. On comparison of the neuronal activation for the paraventricular nucleus, an increased activation in response to fenfluramine was observed. At 18days, the weight gain percentage differed between the groups according to the nutritional manipulation, in which the control animals had no significant change while the undernourished presented increased weight gain with the use of fenfluramine. The marking of c-Fos in response to fenfluramine in the hypothalamic and raphe nuclei revealed, an especially lower activation of the PVN, MnR and DR compared intra-group. However when evaluating the effect of undernutrition, marking activation was observed to increase in all the nuclei analyzed, in the hypothalamus and raphe. Data from this study indicate that the action of serotonin via food intake in the neonates may have been delayed by early protein undernutrition.

Early exposure of dams to a westernized diet has long-term consequences on food intake and physiometabolic homeostasis of the rat offspring.

This study evaluated the long-term effects of a westernized diet during pregnancy and lactation. Female Wistar rats (n = 12) were divided into two groups according to their food intake, namely, control (C) or westernized (W) diet, throughout pregnancy/lactation. On the 21st day, the male pups were weaned on a standard diet as follows: Control diet (CC) (n = 8) and westernized diet in perinatal life followed by control diet post weaning (WC) (n = 8). The levels of fasting (12 h) serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol and fraction in the pups were determined. During weaning, the WC group showed 14% greater body weight (p < 0.001). In the adulthood, the offspring from dams fed on westernized diet showed hyperphagia, hyperinsulinism, hypertriglyceridemia, higher fat visceral weight, higher very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level, decreased high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level, and altered glucose tolerance test. In conclusion, maternal western-style diet in early life altered long-term food intake, visceral fat pad, insulin, glucose and lipid serum, and increased risk of metabolic disorders.

Effects of a westernized diet on the reflexes and physical maturation of male rat offspring during the perinatal period.

This study evaluates the effects of a westernized diet during the perinatal period on the maternal performance and growth and development of rat offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed with either a control (C) diet, with casein as the protein source or a westernized (W) diet, during pregnancy and lactation. The pups were divided, eight per group, into the same diet groups as their dams. During lactation, the body weight (day 1, W = 6.85 ± 0.62 g, C = 5.81 ± 0.49, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 55.42 ± 3.78, C = 47.75 ± 3.45, p < 0.001) and somatic growth (body length day 1, W = 53.24 ± 2.16, C = 50.641 ± 1.79, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 124.8, C = 119.903 ± 3.71, p < 0.001) in the male offspring showed significant differences among the groups. The physical appearance and reflex maturation showed differences between day 1 and day 3. With the westernized diet, during the perinatal period, no alterations in maternal weight gain, gestation or performance were observed; however, changes in the coefficients of feed efficiency and energy during lactation were noted. Besides, blood glucose was found to be elevated at the end of lactation (C = 3.67 ± 0.35 mmol/l, W = 5.2 0 ± 0.49 mmol/l). At 21 days, the male pups from the dams on the westernized diet were 15 % heavier, and the maturation of the neural reflexes and physical characteristics were found to occur earlier. Therefore, the consumption of a westernized diet during the perinatal period was independent of maternal energy intake, and influenced the growth and development of offspring.

Perinatal undernutrition stimulates seeking food reward.

Experiments in animals have revealed that perinatal nutritional restriction, which manifests in adulthood, increases food intake and preference for palatable foods. Considering this, we aimed to evaluate the effects of perinatal malnutrition on hedonic control of feeding behavior. In this study, we divided Wistar rats into two groups according to the diet provided to their mothers during pregnancy and lactation: the control group (diet with 17% casein) and low-protein group (diet with 8% casein). We assessed the animals' motivational behavior in adulthood by giving them a stimulus of food reward. We also assessed their neuronal activation triggered by the stimulus of palatable food using FOS protein labeling of neurons activated in the caudate putamen, paraventricular, dorsomedial, ventromedial, and lateral hypothalamic nuclei and amygdala. Evaluation of body weight in malnourished animals showed reduction from the 6th day of life until adulthood. Analysis of feeding behavior revealed that these animals were more motivated by food reward, but they had delays during learning of the task. This finding correlated with the number of c-FOS-immunoreactive neurons, which indicated that malnourished animals had an increase in the number of neurons activated in response to the palatable diet, especially in the amygdala and caudate putamen. The study therefore confirmed our hypothesis that early nutritional insults promote changes in encephalic control mechanisms, especially those related to food intake and search for reward.

Early physical activity minimizes the adverse effects of a low-energy diet on growth and development parameters.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a low-energy diet on rat dams and physical activity in water during the perinatal period on body weight, somatic growth, and neuromotor development. METHODS: Rat dams were fed with control or low-energy diets from the third gestational week. At 8 days old the littermates were either involved or not in aquatic physical activity. The groups were initially divided into normocaloric (C) or low-energy (LE) diets. The study included 52 male pups from primiparous Wistar rats. Exercise in water was carried out with the pups from the age of 8 to 52 days. Four experimental groups were formed: inactive control (IC), active control (AC), inactive low-energy (ILE), and active low-energy (ALE). Somatic growth (tail length (TL), lateral-lateral axis of the skull (LLAS), anterior-posterior axis of the skull (APAS), and longitudinal axis (LA)), maturation of reflexes and neuromotor development of pup locomotion were analyzed along with a biochemical profile. RESULTS: During lactation the body weight range (%) was lower for ILE compared with IC (38%, P < 0.05), as ALE body weight gain was lower (29%, P < 0.05) compared with AC and bigger (17%, P < 0.05) compared with ILE. At 21st day reduced body weight was observed in LE diet groups (IC = 48.62 ± 1.36 g; AC = 48.30 ± 1.03 g; ILE = 30.49 ± 1.60 g; ALE = 39.38 ± 1.06 g, P < 0.05). Compared with control diet, the LE diet delayed somatic growth of pups from 2nd week to end lactation, but the early physical activity in LE group improved some parameters of somatic growth (TL: IC = 68.87 ± 1.00 mm, AC = 68.80 ± 1.10 mm, ILE = 60.21 ± 1.14 mm, ALE = 64.61 ± 0.55 mm; LA: IC = 113.21 ± 1.73 mm, AC = 113.33 ± 1.37 mm, ILE = 99.40 ± 1.67 mm, ALE = 106.76 ± 0.79 mm; APAS: IC = 37.10 ± 0.32 mm, AC: 37.18 ± 0.23 mm, ILE = 34.11 ± 0.33 mm, ALE = 35.84 ± 0.30 mm; LLAS: IC = 18.71 ± 0.24 mm, AC = 19.00 ± 0.16 mm, ILE = 17.10 ± 0.19 mm, ALE = 17.87 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.05) and reflex ontogeny. Nevertheless, fewer changes were observed in locomotor activity (P > 0.05). At 60 days old, the food intake and measures of murinometrics did not differ among groups, but they had lower glucose levels ILE (IC = 4.14 ± 0.23 mmol/l, AC = 3.70 ± 0.22 mmol/l, ILE = 3.38 ± 0.20 mmol/l, ALE = 4.17 ± 0.09 mmol/l, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Taken together, we suggest that physical activity in water acts as a beneficial factor in LE diets of dams during the perinatal period. Further study is necessary to investigate the role of physical activity for adaptation against adverse nutritional stimuli.

Delineating the construct network of the Personnel Reaction Blank: associations with externalizing tendencies and normal personality.

Integrity testing has long been utilized in personnel selection to screen for tendencies toward counterproductive workplace behaviors. The construct of externalizing from the psychopathology literature represents a coherent spectrum marked by disinhibitory traits and behaviors. The present study drew on a sample of male and female undergraduates to examine the construct network of the Personnel Reaction Blank (PRB; H. G. Gough, R. D. Arvey, & P. Bradley, 2004), a measure of integrity, in relation to externalizing as well as normal-range personality constructs assessed by the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; A. Tellegen & N. G. Waller, 2008). Results revealed moderate to strong associations between several PRB scales and externalizing, which were largely accounted for by MPQ traits subsumed by Negative Emotionality and Constraint. After accounting for MPQ traits in the prediction of externalizing, a modest predictive increment was achieved when adding the PRB scales, particularly biographical indicators from the Prosocial Background subscale. The findings highlight externalizing as a focal criterion for scale development in the integrity testing literature and help delineate the construct network of the PRB within the domains of personality and psychopathology.

Stress-induced downregulation of macrophage phagocytic function is attenuated by exercise training in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute restraint stress may induce impaired macrophage phagocytic function. Moderate physical training is associated with beneficial effects on immunological functions. We investigated the effects of moderate physical training on phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages in rats submitted to acute restraint stress. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 210-226 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: nontrained rats (n = 7), nontrained rats submitted to stress (n = 8), trained rats (n = 7) and trained rats submitted to stress (n = 8). Trained rats were submitted to a program of moderate running training over a period of 8 weeks. Rats subjected to restraint stress were kept immobilized in glass cylinders (8 cm in diameter and 24 cm long) during 60 min. Phagocytosis capacity of macrophages was evaluated by either Escherichia coli orzymosan stimuli. RESULTS: Restraint stress induced a decrease in phagocytosis of E. coli and zymosan particle stimulation by macrophages. Neither of these alterations was observed in trained animals submitted to acute restraint stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that acute restraint stress is associated with impaired function of macrophages. Moreover, moderate physical training attenuates the effects of acute stress by a mechanism that involves an increase in tolerance of macrophages.

Physical training attenuates the stress-induced changes in rat T-lymphocyte function.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Modulations in the immune function by stress are a well-known phenomenon. Acute restraint stress may induce impaired T-lymphocyte responses. Moderate physical training is associated with beneficial effects on immunological functions. We investigated the effects of a moderate physical training on T-lymphocyte function in rats submitted to acute restraint stress. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 210-226 g were randomly divided into four groups: non-trained rats (NT, n = 7), and non-trained rats submitted to stress (NT + S, n = 8); trained rats (T, n = 7), and trained rats submitted to stress (T + S, n = 8). Trained rats were submitted to a program of moderate running over a period of 8 weeks. Rats subjected to restraint stress were kept immobilized in glass cylinders (8 cm in diameter and 24 cm long) during 60 min. Plasma corticosterone concentration, peripheral blood leukocyte number, indicators of apoptosis of T lymphocytes in blood and lymphoid organs, and mitogen-induced proliferation of T lymphocytes in lymphoid organs were evaluated. RESULTS: Acute stress exposure raised plasma corticosterone concentration (p < 0.001), but not in previously trained animals. Restraint stress induced an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes in apoptosis, and a decrease in the concanavalin-A-induced proliferation of lymphocytes from the thymus and lymph nodes, and an increase in lymphocytes of the spleen. Neither of these alterations was observed in trained animals submitted to acute restraint stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that acute restraint stress is associated with changes in T-lymphocyte function. Moreover, moderate physical training attenuates the effects of acute stress by a mechanism that involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and an increase in tolerance of leukocytes.