Imagined and extended contact experiences and adolescent bystanders' behavioral intentions in homophobic bullying episodes.

Bystanders' helping interventions in bias-based bullying are rare, although they have the potential to intervene on behalf of the victim and quickly stop the aggression. Two studies tested, experimentally, the impact of adolescents' imagined (Study 1, N = 113, Mage = 16.17) and extended contact experiences (Study 2, N = 174, Mage = 15.79) on assertive bystanders' behavioral intentions in the context of homophobic bullying, an under-researched but highly detrimental behavior that emerges mainly during early adolescence. Potential mediators (empathic concern, social contagion concerns, and masculinity/femininity threat) were also examined. Results showed that female younger participants revealed more behavioral intentions to help victims of homophobic bullying when asked to imagine an interaction with an outgroup member (Study 1). Younger participants revealed less masculinity/femininity threat in the positive extended contact condition, and female participants revealed less empathic concern in the negative extended contact condition (Study 2). Overall, these findings identify specific conditions (e.g., younger females) where indirect contact interventions (i.e., extended and imagined) are likely to have a stronger impact. Age and sex differences were found to illustrate how adolescents vary in their behavioral intentions, empathic concern, and threat; and also highlight the need to further examine age and sex differences regarding responses to homophobic bullying episodes.

Cyberbullying during COVID-19 lockdowns: prevalence, predictors, and outcomes for youth.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges to the safety and well-being of young people who were forced to engage in online learning, spending more time than ever online, and cyberbullying emerged as a notable concern for parents, educators, and students. Two studies conducted online examined the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of cyberbullying episodes during the lockdowns due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Portugal. Study 1 (N = 485) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth during the first lockdown period in 2020, focusing on predictors, symptoms of psychological distress and possible buffers of the effects of cyberbullying. Study 2 (N = 952) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying, predictors, and symptoms of psychological distress during the second lockdown period in 2021. Results revealed that most participants experienced cyberbullying, symptoms of psychological distress (e.g., sadness and loneliness) during the lockdowns were higher for those who experienced than for those who did not experience cyberbullying, and those who experienced cyberbullying with higher levels of parental and social support showed lower levels of symptoms of psychological distress (i.e., suicidal ideation). These findings contribute to the existing knowledge on online bullying among youth, specifically during COVID-19 lockdowns. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04394-7.

Gay Voice: Stable Marker of Sexual Orientation or Flexible Communication Device?

Listeners rely on vocal features when guessing others' sexual orientation. What is less clear is whether speakers modulate their voice to emphasize or to conceal their sexual orientation. We hypothesized that gay individuals adapt their voices to the social context, either emphasizing or disguising their sexual orientation. In Study 1 (n = 20 speakers, n = 383 Italian listeners and n = 373 British listeners), using a simulated conversation paradigm, we found that gay speakers modulated their voices depending on the interlocutor, sounding more gay when speaking to a person with whom they have had an easy (vs. difficult or no) coming out. Although straight speakers were always clearly perceived as heterosexual, their voice perception also varied depending on the interlocutor. Study 2 (n = 14 speakers and n = 309 listeners), comparing the voices of young YouTubers before and after their public coming out, showed a voice modulation as a function of coming out. The voices of gay YouTubers sounded more gay after coming out, whereas those of age-matched straight control male speakers sounded increasingly heterosexual over time. Combining experimental and archival methods, this research suggests that gay speakers modulate their voices flexibly depending on their relation with the interlocutor and as a consequence of their public coming out.

Antioxidant effect of doxycycline decreases MMP activity and blood pressure in SHR.

Increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels are involved in vascular remodeling of hypertension. In this study, we hypothesized that doxycycline (a MMP inhibitor) could exert antioxidant effects, reverse establish vascular remodeling, and lower blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats received either doxycycline at 30 mg/kg/day by gavage or vehicle. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was assessed weekly by tail cuff. After 5 weeks of treatment, morphologic changes in the aortic wall were studied in hematoxylin/eosin sections. MMP activity and expression were determined by in situ zymography using DQ gelatin and immunofluorescence for MMP-2. Dihydroethidium was used to evaluate aortic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by fluorescence microscopy. Doxycycline reduced SBP by 25 mmHg. However, the antihypertensive effects were not associated with significant reversal of hypertension-induced vascular hypertrophy. SHR showed increased aortic MMP-2 levels which co-localized with higher aortic MMP activity and ROS levels, and all those biochemical alterations associated with hypertension were blunted by treatment with doxycycline. These results show that MMP inhibition with doxycycline in SHR with established hypertension resulted in antioxidant effects, lower gelatinolytic activity, and antihypertensive effects which were not associated with reversal of hypertension-induced vascular remodeling.

Formulas used by Tibetan doctors at Men-Tsee-Khang in India for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and their correlation with pharmacological data.

The aim of the present study was to identify formulas used at Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute), India, for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and to compare the Tibetan usage of particular ingredients with pharmacological data from the scientific database. Using ethnographic methods, five doctors were selected and interviewed. A correlation was observed between central nervous system disorders and rLung, one of the three humors in Tibetan medicine, which imbalance is the source of mental disorders, and ten multi-ingredient formulas used to treat the imbalance of this particular humor were identified. These formulas utilize 61 ingredients; among them were 48 plant species. Each formula treats several symptoms related to rLung imbalance, so the plants may have therapeutic uses distinct from those of the formulas in which they are included. Myristica fragrans, nutmeg, is contained in 100% of the formulas, and its seeds exhibit stimulant and depressant actions affecting the central nervous system. Preclinical and clinical data from the scientific literature indicate that all of the formulas include ingredients with neuropsychiatric action and corroborate the therapeutic use of 75.6% of the plants. These findings indicate a level of congruence between the therapeutic uses of particular plant species in Tibetan and Western medicines.

Effect of target change during the simple attack in fencing.

The aim of this study was to test the effect that changing targets during a simple long lunge attack in fencing exerts on the temporal parameters of the reaction response, the execution speed, and the precision and the coordination of the movement pattern. Thirty fencers with more than 10 years of experience participated in this study. Two force platforms were used to record the horizontal components of the reaction forces and thereby to determine the beginning of the movement. A three-dimensional (3D) system recorded the spatial positions of the 9 markers situated on the fencer plus the epee, while a moving target was projected on a screen, enabling the control of the target change. The results indicated that when a target change is provoked the reaction time (RT), movement time (MT), and the time used in the acceleration phase of the centre of mass (CM) increases significantly with respect to the attack executed with a straight thrust. The speed and horizontal distance reached by the CM at the end of the acceleration phase (VX(CM) and SX(CM), respectively) significantly decreased, while the errors increased. However, the temporal sequence of the movement pattern did not appreciably change.

Auditory Gaydar: Perception of Sexual Orientation Based on Female Voice.

We investigated auditory gaydar (i.e., the ability to recognize sexual orientation) in female speakers, addressing three related issues: whether auditory gaydar is (1) accurate, (2) language-dependent (i.e., occurs only in some languages, but not in others), and (3) ingroup-specific (i.e., occurs only when listeners judge speakers of their own language, but not when they judge foreign language speakers). In three experiments, we asked Italian, Portuguese, and German participants (total N = 466) to listen to voices of Italian, Portuguese, and German women, and to rate their sexual orientation. Our results showed that auditory gaydar was not accurate; listeners were not able to identify speakers' sexual orientation correctly. The same pattern emerged consistently across all three languages and when listeners rated foreign-language speakers.

A fractionated analysis of hot and cool self-regulation in cigarette smokers from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Smoking cigarettes and low socioeconomic status (SES) are both related to impaired cognition. However, it is unknown whether people of lower SES, who comprise most tobacco smokers worldwide, are more susceptible to cognitive impairment associated with smoking. In this non-randomized, cross-sectional study we investigated the effects of cigarette smoking, SES and their interaction on dissociable executive or "cool" and "hot" measures of behavioural self-regulation. Participants (n = 80) were selected among young physically and mentally healthy smokers and non-smokers who had graduated high school and were from different SES backgrounds. Cool self-regulation was measured by executive function tasks that tap inhibition, updating, shifting, dual tasking, planning, access to long-term memory (semantic fluency), and working memory capacity. Hot measures assessed self-reported impulsivity, delay discounting and risk taking. Exposure to tobacco (cotinine, exhaled carbon monoxide, tobacco dependence, cigarette consumption) was assessed to determine to what extent it mediated the cognitive effects of smoking. Nicotine abstinence and its acute effects were controlled, as were sex, age, schooling, and psychiatric symptoms despite the fact that smokers and non-smokers were selected as being as similar as possible in these demographic characteristics. Lower SES (less years of parental schooling) was associated with worse performance on tasks that measured all cool domains except dual tasking and fluency, while smoking status was related to impaired delayed discounting and impulsivity (hot domains), effects that were not mediated by tobacco exposure. Smoking and SES, however, did not interact. In short, impaired performance in measures of most cool skills was associated with SES irrespective of smoking status; in contrast, regardless of SES, smokers showed specific impairment in hot self-regulation domains (more difficulty resisting immediate temptations and weighing future consequences of actions). Possible explanations for the lack of mediation of tobacco exposure on hot skills of smokers are discussed.

Cytogenetic Biomonitoring in Buccal Mucosa Cells from Young Smokers.

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, much attention has been focused on the search for new non-invasive methodologies able to predict malignant transformation of oral mucosa cells. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from smokers and non-smokers in buccal mucosa cells. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 24 young, healthy smokers and 14 non-smokers were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from the cheek mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. RESULTS: Smokers presented more (p < 0.05) micronucleated oral mucosa cells than non-smokers. Tobacco smoke was not able to increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis. CONCLUSION: In summary, these data indicate that the cigarette is able to induce micronuclei in oral mucosa cells, so the micronucleus test is a suitable method for predicting oral cancer risk.

Matrix metalloproteinases are involved in cardiovascular diseases.

This MiniReview describes the essential biochemical and molecular aspects of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and briefly discusses how they engage in different diseases, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular diseases. There is compelling scientific evidence that many MMPs, especially MMP-2, play important roles in the development of cardiovascular diseases; inhibition of these enzymes is beneficial to many cardiovascular conditions, sometimes precluding or postponing end-organ damage and fatal outcomes. Conducting comprehensive discussions and further studies on how MMPs participate in cardiovascular diseases is important, because inhibition of these enzymes may be an alternative or an adjuvant for current cardiovascular disease therapy.

Captopril and lisinopril only inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity at millimolar concentrations.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) shares structural similarities with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). ACE inhibitors have been described to inhibit MMP-2, but this inhibitory potential was not shown using a highly purified MMP-2. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory potential of captopril and lisinopril regarding MMP-2 activity. The first objective was to test the potential of captopril to change the pH of the buffer solution. The second objective was to test the direct inhibitory effect of captopril and lisinopril on plasma MMP-2 and on recombinant human MMP-2 (rhMMP-2). The in vitro activity assays included gelatin zymography and a fluorimetric assay. Captopril solubilization significantly decreased the pH of the 50 mM Tris buffer solution at the following concentrations: 2 mM (p < 0.05), 4 mM and 8 mM (p < 0.01), while only the 8 mM lisinopril induced a drop in pH (p < 0.05). Thus, only 200 mM buffer solutions were used. Zymography results of plasma MMP-2 and rhMMP-2 showed that inhibition only happened at captopril concentrations ≥ 4 and 1 mM, respectively (p < 0.05), while only the higher concentration of lisinopril (8 mM) inhibited plasma MMP-2 (p < 0.05). In the fluorimetric assay, captopril led to significant inhibition of the rhMMP-2 activity at concentrations ≥2 mM (p < 0.01), whereas aminophenylmercuric acetate-activated rhMMP-2 was inhibited by 0.5 mM captopril (p < 0.01). The captopril and lisinopril concentrations found to inhibit MMP-2 are 3 orders of magnitude higher than those present in vivo after drug administration. We also discuss possible pitfalls for gelatinase inhibitory assays (besides the obvious pH problem already cited). In conclusion, this study's data show that captopril and lisinopril did not inhibit MMP-2 directly at the concentrations reached in vivo.

Response timing in the lunge and target change in elite versus medium-level fencers.

The aim of the present work is to examine the differences between two groups of fencers with different levels of competition, elite and medium level. The timing parameters of the response reaction have been compared together with the kinetic variables which determine the sequence of segmented participation used during the lunge with a change in target during movement. A total of 30 male sword fencers participated, 13 elite and 17 medium level. Two force platforms recorded the horizontal component of the force and the start of the movement. One system filmed the movement in 3D, recording the spatial positions of 11 markers, while another system projected a mobile target over a screen. For synchronisation, an electronic signal enabled all the systems to be started simultaneously. Among the timing parameters of the reaction response, the choice reaction time (CRT) to the target change during the lunge was measured. The results revealed differences between the groups regarding the flight time, horizontal velocity at the end of the acceleration phase, and the length of the lunge, these being higher for the elite group, as well as other variables related to the temporal sequence of movement. No significant differences have been found in the simple reaction time or in CRT. According to the literature, the CRT appears to improve with sports practice, although this factor did not differentiate the elite from medium-level fencers. The coordination of fencing movements, that is, the right technique, constitutes a factor that differentiates elite fencers from medium-level ones.

Effect of uncertainty on the reaction response in fencing.

PURPOSE: The objective was to determine the way in which the level of uncertainty produced during the execution of a lunge attack with target change (two or four possible responses) affects reaction-response time parameters and kinematic factors involved in the technical coordination of the attack. METHOD: Seventeen fencers from the Spanish National Men's Fencing Team participated in the study, which involved performing a lunge attack against a moving circle as fast as possible, while attempting to place the tip of the sword inside the circle that appeared in the plastron's center of symmetry. Two force platforms were used to record the anteroposterior component of force and the initiation of movement. Kinematics were measured with a three-dimensional motion-capture system that recorded the spatial positions of 11 markers. An electronic signal was used to time-synchronize all of the systems. RESULTS: The results demonstrate a significant increase in reaction time, p < .01, and choice reaction time, p < .001, when uncertainty increases, while movement time, precision, and segmental participation sequence during movement are not affected when uncertainty increases. CONCLUSION: It is worth stressing the importance of uncertainty-reduction strategies for fencers' performance to reduce the reaction-response time. Although increased uncertainty has little influence over precision and segmental participation sequence of the movement pattern used in attacks executed by elite fencers, caution should be used when generalizing these results for fencers of a lower technical level than that of the participants in this study.

Princípios centrais da relação de interagência: uma contribuição para a clínica naturológica / Core principles of the interaction's relationship: a contribution to the naturological clinical practice

Introdução: A Naturologia é um conhecimento que preconiza uma visão ampliada dos processos de saúde e oferece uma perspectiva de promoção e educação para a saúde. Tem sua origem no Brasil nos mesmos movimentos que consolidaram a Naturopatia neste país e no mundo, e suas especificidades são o diálogo entre as racionalidades de saúde como proposta epistemológica e a Relação de Interagência. Relação de Interagência é o nome dado à relação terapêutica na Naturologia. Objetivo: Revisar a literatura sobre a Relação de Interagência para identificar, sumarizar, sistematizar e discutir os princípios centrais que a norteiam, sob uma perspectiva clínica. Percurso metodológico: Foi realizada uma revisão narrativa da literatura, e os achados sobre a Relação de Interagência foram dialogados com saberes de outras áreas. Desenvolvimento: Dentre diversos conceitos citados como norteadores da Relação de Interagência na literatura disponível, 5 princípios centrais foram destacados para fins de sintetização: presença; empatia; integralidade; autonomia; e corresponsabilidade. Estes princípios são apresentados e discutidos ao longo do artigo, e foram feitos apontamentos de aplicação prática quando pertinente.(AU)

Introduction: Naturology is a knowledge that advoctes an enlarged understanding of health processes and a perspective of health promotion and education. Its origins in Brazil are the same movements that have consolidated Naturopathy in this country and in the world. Some specificities are the dialogue between health rationalities as an epistemological proposal and interaction´s relationship. "Interaction´s Relationship". is tha name given to the therapeutic relationship in Naturology. Objective: To review the literature on Interaction´s Relationship and to identify, summarize, systematize and discuss the core principles that guide it from a clinical perspective. Methodological route: A narrative revil of the literature was carried ou, and the findings on an Interaction´s Relationship with dialogues with knowledge from other areas. Development: Among several concepts cited as guiding principles of the Interaction´s Relationship in the literature, five core prominent principles were highlighted for synthesizing purposes: presence; empathy; wholeness; autonomy; and co-responsbility. These core principles were discussed throughout the paper and practical considerations were made.(AU)

Kinematic pattern of the drag-flick: a case study.

The drag-flick is more efficient than hits or pushes when a penalty corner situation is in effect in field hockey. Previous research has studied the biomechanical pattern of the drag-flick, trying to find the cues for an optimal performance. On the other hand, some other studies have examined the most effective visual pick-up of relevant information in shots and goalkeeper anticipation. The aim of this study was to analyse the individual differences in the drag-flick pattern in order to provide relevant information for goalkeepers. One female skilled drag-flicker participated in the study. A VICON optoelectronic system (Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK) was used to capture the drag-flicks with six cameras. The results showed that the main significant differences between right and left shots (p<0.05) in the stick angles, stick minimum angular velocity and front foot-ball distance were when the front foot heel contacted the floor (T1) and at the minimum velocity of the stick, before the dragging action (T3). The findings showed that the most relevant information might be picked up at the ball-and-stick location before the dragging action.

A relação de interagência como abordagem central do naturólogo / The interaction's relationship as the central approach of the naturologist

A relação terapêutica é um dos pontos fundamentais da abordagem em Naturologia. Com ênfase no cuidado humanizado e trazendo um caráter de transversalidade ao invés de verticalidade, é denominada por relação de interagência e caracterizada como o diferencial na forma de atuação do naturólogo. A relação de interagência se pauta em uma visão complexa do indivíduo, respeitando sua autonomia e educando-o quanto aos seus processos de saúde.

Afinal, Naturologia e Naturopatia são coisas distintas ou similares? / After all, is Naturology and Naturopathy different or similar?

Afinal, Naturologia e Naturopatia são coisas distintas ou similares? Parece que aquilo que as distancia parcialmente enquanto "praxis" - devido as peculiaridades de cada local - se aproxima enquanto "logos" - filosofia, abordagem, visão e concepções de saúde. Têm sido compreendidas como um sistema completo ( e complexo) de cuidado, configurando-se como uma possível Racionalidade Médica

Origem e desenvolvimento da Naturologia no Brasil: aspectos conceituais, históricos e políticos / Origin and development of Naturology in Brazil: conceptual, historical and political aspects

O primeiro bacharelado reconhecido pelo MEC de Naturologia completa 20 anos em 2018. A naturologia é uma profissão recente no Brasil, a qual busca entender o ser-humano multidimensionalmente e respeitar a singularidade humana na busca de bem-estar, qualidade de vida e saúde através da relação de interagência e das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares. Este texto aborda um breve histórico das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares e Naturologia no Brasil, o processo de reconhecimento da ocupação e regulamentação da profissão. O texto também explora os campos de atuação do naturólogo, órgãos de representação profissional, principais eventos científicos e publicações importantes da área.(AU)

The first course recognized bu the Ministry of Education of Naturology completes 20 years in 2018. Naturology is a new profession in Brazil, one which seeks to understand the human being in a multi-dimensional way, and respect human singularity in its search for well-being, quality of life and health trough a relationship of interagency and Complementary and Intrgrative Pratices. The present article addresses a brief history of Comlementary and Integrative Pratices and Naturology in Brazil, the process of recognizing the occupation and regulation of the profession. The paper also explores the fields in which the naturologist is active, the bodies of professional representation, the main scientific events and important publications in the field.(AU)

Lead contents in the surface enamel of primary and permanent teeth, whole blood, serum, and saliva of 6- to 8-year-old children.

This study aimed to evaluate associations of Pb-enamel values determined in two successive enamel microbiopsies taken from a primary and a permanent tooth, and to assess how Pb-enamel correlates with Pb-blood and Pb-serum as well as whole (Pb-whole-saliva), submandibular/sublingual (Pb-sub-saliva) and parotid saliva (Pb-parotid-saliva). The study population included 444 children aged 6 to 8years attending 4 government schools in the district of Campos Eliseos, in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Whole blood, serum, parotid, submandibular/sublingual ("sub-saliva"), and whole saliva were collected in trace element-free tubes. Two successive microbiopsies were taken from the surface of a primary and a permanent tooth of each child. Lead concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). There was a significant correlation between primary and permanent teeth in terms of Pb-enamel, for both the first and the second microbiopsies. When the median Pb-enamel values were compared between the two genders using only the highest 10th percentile Pb-enamel, there was a significant difference between girls and boys for both primary (474.2 vs 910.0µg/g, respectively; p=0.02) and permanent teeth (739.5 vs 1325µg/g, respectively; p=0.04). There were no significant correlations between Pb-enamel and Pb-blood or between Pb-enamel and lead in the 3 different salivas. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between Pb-enamel and Pb-serum when only the highest 10th percentile Pb-enamel was analyzed (r=0.57 and p=0.0002 for primary teeth; r=0.56 and p<0.0001, for permanent teeth). In conclusion, our findings have demonstrated a significant correlation between Pb-enamel found in primary and permanent teeth, as well as a significant correlation between Pb-serum and lead in primary and permanent tooth enamel. Boys presented higher Pb-enamel than girls. Our study also suggests that Pb-enamel has no correlation with Pb-blood or with lead in the 3 different salivas.

Consistent alterations of circulating matrix metalloproteinases levels in untreated hypertensives and in spontaneously hypertensive rats: a relevant pharmacological target.

Inconsistent matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) levels have been reported in hypertension, with higher, similar and lower MMPs levels reported in hypertensives compared with normotensives. Differences between studies may reflect lack of control of drug effects, accompanying diseases and pre-analytical issues. We compared MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels in 38 untreated hypertensive patients (with no other diseases) with those found in 33 normotensive controls. We also studied endogenous MMPs inhibitors (TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and alpha-2-macroglobulin-A2M). Additionally, we assessed MMPs and A2M levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. We hypothesized that similar MMPs/endogenous inhibitors' profiles would be found in this animal model of hypertension and in clinical hypertension. MMPs, TIMPs and A2M were measured in plasma samples with commercially available ELISA and gelatin zymography. We found unaltered MMP-2, MMP-8, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and A2M levels in hypertension. However, hypertensives had higher MMP-9 levels and MMP-9/A2M ratios than normotensives. Moreover, while we found similar MMP-2 and A2M levels in SHR and WKY rats, we found higher MMP-9 levels and MMP-9/A2M ratios in SHR versus WKY rats. These findings show consistent abnormal net plasma MMP-9 (but not MMP-2) activity in clinical and experimental hypertension. These parallel alterations in clinical hypertension and in SHR suggest an important role for MMPs in hypertension. While MMPs may be a relevant pharmacological target, antihypertensive drugs that down-regulate MMPs may offer advantages in the management of this disease.