COVID-19 pandemic has implied exceptional restrictive measures to contain its widespread, with adverse consequences on mental health, especially for those people with a background of mental illness, ...such as eating disorders (EDs). In this population, the influence of socio-cultural aspects on mental health has been still underexplored. Then, the main aim of this study was to assess changes in eating and general psychopathology in people with EDs during lockdown regarding the ED subtype, age, and provenance, and considering socio-cultural aspects (e.g., socioeconomical factors such as work and financial losses, social support, restrictive measures, or health accessibility, among others).
The clinical sample was composed of 264 female participants with EDs (74 anorexia nervosa (AN), 44 bulimia nervosa (BN), 81 binge eating disorder (BED), and 65 other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)), with a mean age of 33.49 years old (SD = 12.54), from specialized ED units in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. The participants were evaluated using the COVID-19 Isolation Eating Scale (CIES).
A global impairment in mood symptoms and emotion regulation was reported in all the ED subtypes, groups of age, and countries. Spanish and Portuguese individuals seemed more resilient than Brazilian ones (p < .05), who reported a more adverse socio-cultural context (i.e., physical health, socio-familial, occupational, and economic status) (p < .001). A global trend to eating symptoms worsening during lockdown was observed, regardless of the ED subtype, group of age, and country, but without reaching statistical significance. However, the AN and BED groups described the highest worsening of the eating habits during lockdown. Moreover, individuals with BED significantly increased their weight and body mass index, similarly to BN, and in contrast to the AN and OSFED groups. Finally, we failed to find significant differences between groups of age although the younger group described a significant worsening of the eating symptoms during lockdown.
This study reports a psychopathological impairment in patients with EDs during lockdown, being socio-cultural aspects potential modulatory factors. Individualized approaches to detect special vulnerable groups and long-term follow-ups are still needed.
Cell proliferation and apoptosis are hormone-dependent physiological processes involved in endometrial growth and regression. The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate endometrial cell ...proliferation using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression; (2) to evaluate the induction of endometrial cell death by the expression of active caspase-3 and the apoptotic phenotype visualised by DNA fragmentation; and (3) to relate these observations to endometrial tissue dynamics in the equine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle. Endometria were assigned to follicular and luteal phases based on ovarian structures and plasma progesterone. Cell proliferation and active caspase-3-mediated apoptosis were expressed in both phases of the oestrous cycle. In the luteal phase, PCNA expression was higher than in the follicular phase. Highest PCNA activity was noted in the luminal and glandular structures. Active caspase-3 staining was increased in luminal epithelium and deep glandular cells during the luteal phase. However, in the follicular phase, stromal cells showed greater active caspase-3 expression. Only a few apoptotic endometrial cells were detected by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) and these cells were mostly present in luminal and glandular structures. A simultaneous increase in DNA, cell proliferation and protein synthesis was observed in the endometrium during the mid-luteal phase. This suggests that cell hyperplasia occurs at the time the histotroph is needed for eventual embryo nourishment.
This study compares the efficacy of porcine intestinal submucosa (SIS) patch graft versus SIS‐tube graft in esophageal replacement, using a novel esophageal regeneration model. Clinical function, as ...well as macroscopic and microscopic morphology were evaluated in both SIS‐treated groups. We performed semi‐circumferential esophageal excision followed by repair of the defect using either a SIS‐patch graft (group I) or segmental esophageal excision followed by a SIS‐tube interposition graft (group II) in rats. The 28‐day survival rate was significantly different between the SIS‐treated groups (100% in group I vs. 0% in group II). Unlike the rats in group II, which died within the first postoperative month due to esophageal dysfunction, all surviving animals in group I resumed a normal solid diet within a few days after surgery, without signs of esophageal dysfunction and gained weight. Barium swallow studies showed no evidence of fistula, significant stenosis or diverticula. No hematological or serum biochemistry abnormalities were found. By day 150 the SIS patch was replaced by esophageal‐derived tissues. In the rat model, a patch graft technique using SIS appeared to induce esophageal regrowth and provided an initial and long‐term satisfactory function, while a tube‐shaped graft technique using SIS was unsuccessful.
Steroid hormones act via specific receptors, and these play an important physiological role in the ovary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cellular distribution of progesterone ...receptors and their staining intensity in different equine luteal structures during the breeding season, as well as their relationship to luteal cell composition, cell proliferation pattern and plasma progesterone (P4) concentration. There was an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in large luteal cells from the corpus hemorrhagicum (CH) to mid-luteal phase, followed by a decrease toward the late luteal stage. In the CH, the number of large luteal cells was lower than in other structures. Only large luteal cells showed positive staining for P(4) receptors. An increase in staining intensity for P(4) receptors was observed between CH and mid-phase corpus luteum, and CH and late-phase corpus luteum. Synthesis of P(4) started at a very early stage of the luteal structure and was accompanied by an increase in P(4) receptors and PCNA expression, and proliferation of large luteal cells, until mid-luteal phase. These data suggest that large luteal cells might play an important role in the regulation or synthesis of P(4) in equine luteal structures.
This study aimed to carry out the cultural adaptation and present initial evidence about the psychometric characteristics of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale in the Brazilian context, through ...three steps: translation, semantic validation, and pretest. The results indicated that the synthesis of the translations, performed by two independent translators, was considered unsatisfactory and it was necessary to obtain a new consensus version with an Expert Committee. This last one was back-translated and used in semantic validation with 18 people, confirming the proper understanding of the items after alterations in two of them. In the pretest, with 54 people, Cronbach’s alpha was considered adequate (0.833), with floor and ceiling effects observed in nine and four items, respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed the presence of strong and moderate correlations. The measurement of weight bias internalization represents an important tool to support more effective therapeutic strategies with a view to comprehensive and humanized care.
Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a cell-free collagen matrix that has demonstrated its ability as scaffold material for constructive remodeling of damaged or missing tissue. The purpose of ...this study was to evaluate the morphology and function of esophagoplasty in rat using a porcine SIS scaffold for the repair of a semicircumferential defect in the cervical or in the abdominal esophagus. Sixty-seven rats underwent surgical excision of the anterior wall either of the cervical or of the abdominal esophagus and subsequent repair of the defect with an SIS patch graft. Outcomes of weight gain, signs of dysphagia, hematological and serum chemistry parameters, and barium swallow studies were used to assess the progress of healing and function over a 150-day time period. The grafts were studied for gross changes and histology at predetermined time points. Ninety-four percent of the SIS-treated rats survived, showing no significant differences in survival rate between groups. The grafted animals did well, without signs of dysphagia, and gaining weight. Barium swallow studies showed no evidence of fistula, significant stenosis, or diverticula. No hematological or serum biochemistry abnormalities were found. By 150 days, the SIS graft was replaced with esophageal-derived tissues. Specimens were completely lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and showed complete regeneration of muscle fibers and scarce immunoreactivity for nerve. In the rat model, a patch graft technique using porcine SIS appears to induce esophageal regrowth either in cervical and abdominal esophagus. The repair mechanism occurred through a regenerative healing process.
Regulation of cell size requires coordination of growth and proliferation. Conditional loss of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 in mice permits hepatocyte growth without cell division, allowing us to study ...cell size in vivo using transcriptomics and metabolomics.
Larger cells displayed increased expression of cytoskeletal genes but unexpectedly repressed expression of many genes involved in mitochondrial functions. This effect appears to be cell autonomous because cultured Drosophila cells induced to increase cell size displayed a similar gene-expression pattern. Larger hepatocytes also displayed a reduction in the expression of lipogenic transcription factors, especially sterol-regulatory element binding proteins. Inhibition of mitochondrial functions and lipid biosynthesis, which is dependent on mitochondrial metabolism, increased the cell size with reciprocal effects on cell proliferation in several cell lines.
We uncover that large cell-size increase is accompanied by downregulation of mitochondrial gene expression, similar to that observed in diabetic individuals. Mitochondrial metabolism and lipid synthesis are used to couple cell size and cell proliferation. This regulatory mechanism may provide a possible mechanism for sensing metazoan cell size.
•Gene expression and metabolites levels relative to cell size are analyzed in liver•Mitochondrial gene expression is repressed cell-autonomously in larger cells•Cell size can be modulated by targeting mitochondria functions and lipid synthesis•Lipids are negative regulators of cell size because they promote cell proliferation
Miettinen et al. use conditional knockout of Cdk1 in mouse liver to explore how cell size impacts transcription and metabolism. They find that large cells are not bioenergetically challenged and that mitochondrial function and lipid biosynthesis are changed in response to cell size, possibly due to the differences in the surface-area-to-volume ratio.
The PHANGS–MUSE nebular catalogue Groves, B; Kreckel, K; Santoro, F ...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
02/2023, Letnik:
520, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
ABSTRACT
Ionized nebulae provide critical insights into the conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM). Their bright emission lines enable the measurement of physical properties, such as the ...gas-phase metallicity, across galaxy discs and in distant galaxies. The PHANGS–MUSE survey has produced optical spectroscopic coverage of the central star-forming discs of 19 nearby main-sequence galaxies. Here, we use the $\rm {H}\,\alpha$ morphology from this data to identify 30 790 distinct nebulae, finding thousands of nebulae per galaxy. For each nebula, we extract emission line fluxes and, using diagnostic line ratios, identify the dominant excitation mechanism. A total of 23 244 nebulae (75 per cent) are classified as H ii regions. The dust attenuation of every nebulae is characterized via the Balmer decrement and we use existing environmental masks to identify their large-scale galactic environment (centre, bar, arm, interarm, and disc). Using strong-line prescriptions, we measure the gas-phase oxygen abundances (metallicity) and ionization parameter for all H ii regions. With this new catalogue, we measure the radial metallicity gradients and explore second-order metallicity variations within each galaxy. By quantifying the global scatter in metallicity per galaxy, we find a weak negative correlation with global star formation rate and stronger negative correlation with global gas velocity dispersion (in both ionized and molecular gas). With this paper we release the full catalogue of strong line fluxes and derived properties, providing a rich data base for a broad variety of ISM studies.
The establishment of the intestinal microbiota is critical for the digestive and immune systems. We studied the early development of the rectal microbiota in horse, a hindgut fermenter, from birth ...until 7 days of age, by qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. To evaluate initial sources of the foal microbiota, we characterised dam fecal, vaginal and oral microbiotas. We utilised an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) pipeline to maximise resolution and reproducibility. Stringent ASV filtering based on prevalence and abundance in samples and controls purged contaminants while preserving intestinal taxa. Sampled within 20 minutes after birth, rectal meconium contained small amounts of diverse bacterial DNA, with a profile closer to mare feces than mouth. 24 hours after birth, rectum was colonised by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, some foals dominated by single genera. At day 7, the rectal genera were still different from adult feces. The mare vaginal microbiota contributed to 24 h and 7 day microbiotas. It contained few lactobacilli, with Corynebacterium, Porphyromonas, Campylobacter and Helcococcus as the most abundant genera. In the oral mucosa, Gemella was extremely abundant. Our observations indicate that bacteria or bacterial components are present in the intestine immediately after birth, but the newborn microbiota changes rapidly.
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