In recent decades, many researchers have focused on the development of Conduct Problems from childhood to adolescence. Understanding behavior problems also requires an understanding of well-regulated ...characteristics. Focusing our assessment on strengths makes it possible, on the one hand, to help children or adolescents with deficits in important areas (e.g., socio-emotional deficits) to develop emotional regulation skills and adapt their responses to different contexts. This study aims to understand the role of self-competence, self-regulation, empathy, and responsibility (strength variables) in the relationship between Callous Unemotional characteristics and Conduct Problems, with a sample of 236 children aged between 3 and 10 years (M = 7.51, SD = 1.63), through mediation analysis. In general, our findings suggest that self-regulation significantly explains the relationship between the callous dimension of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits and Conduct Problems, pointing out that this strength variable seems to act as a protective factor against the development of behavior problems. No other mediation effects were found, and these results are considered in light of some limitations.
Residual waters vs. multiresistant bacteria Joadas, Andreia; Nicolau, Bruno; Maia e Silva, Alexandra ...
Annals of medicine (Helsinki),
01/2024, Letnik:
51, Številka:
sup1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Introduction: Water is used daily in numerous domestic and industrial activities, and when discarded is considered wastewater. The self-medication, antibiotics inappropriate prescription, and the use ...of antibiotics in animal feed, leads to the environment being a reservoir of bacteria carrying resistance genes, allowing their dissemination among bacterial communities of water and soil. Bacteria can have several associated resistance mechanisms, giving them the ability to be resistant to different classes of antibiotics. The 3rd generation cephalosporins have an extended action spectrum and are hydrolyzed by the extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The same bacterium can express these enzymes associated with an acetyltransferase encoded by the aac (6')-Ib-cr gene, which confers resistance to aminoglycosides (amikacin and tobramycin) and simultaneously to Fluorquinolones.
Objective: Identification of resistant genes in wastewater isolates.
Materials and methods: 164 isolates from the residual water, were studied for antibiotic susceptibility and 144 were selected for identification of resistance genes by PCR reaction and sequencing.
Results: The antimicrobial study of 144 strains, showed that 78% (112/144) were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The resistance to ciprofloxacin was studied by the detection of aac (6')-Ib-cr gene, found in 26% (37/144). The remained resistant isolates could have different mechanisms, such as qnr genes plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance and/or mutations on chromosomal genes (gyrA and parC). Among the 3rd generation cephalosporin resistance, were found 35% (50/114) were found resistant to cefotaxime and 26% (37/144) to ceftazidime. After sequencing, the following enzymes were predominant: CTX-M-15 (17/55); CTX-M-14 (6/55). The enzymes CTX-M-1, CTX-M-2, CTX-M-98 were found one by each isolate.
Conclusion: The existence of bacteria with resistance genes to 3rd generation cephalosporins simultaneously with fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides constitutes a serious public health problem, with the aggravation of having the same susceptibility profile and the same genetic identity of the hospital strains.
Introduction: Nowadays, bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a problem that has been growing in Portugal, Europe and all around the world, with its cause being in the uncontrolled use of ...antibiotics and the dissemination of resistance genes among different bacteria through nature.
Objective: Identification of resistant genes inserted into Class I Integrons in wastewater isolates
Materials and methods: 165 isolates (110 from affluent waters and 55 from effluent waters) were studied for antibiotic susceptibility and 101 isolates (63 from affluent and 38 from effluent waters) were selected for screening and identification of resistance genes by PCR reaction and sequencing, using 5'-CS and 3'-CS oligonucleotides as specific primers for conserved segments of Class I Integrons.
Results: From residual water analyses the total of 165 isolates were multiresistant to antibiotics used in hospital and ambulatory clinics. Among these isolates, the resistance to Trimethroprim-Sulfamethoxazole and Gentamicin were 61,2% (101/165) and 46.1% (76/165), respectively. Electrophoresis revealed DNA fragments with sizes ranging from 500 to 2000 base pairs according to the number of genes inserted in Integron. After analysis of sequences were identified 22 genes dfr-type (dfrA1, dfrA12, dfrA15, dfrA17 and dfrA27) responsible by resistance to Trimethroprim, These genes were found in 14 isolates from affluent and 7 from effluent waters. Also, the resistance to gentamicin were conferred by 19 genes aad-type (aadA1, aadA2 and aadA5) from 12 affluent and 7 effluent isolates. These genes can be found alone or in association with each other in the same Integron. Other genes that confer resistance to other antibiotics have also been found such as: rifampicin (arr-3); β-lactamics (oxa-2) and gene aac(6')-Ib-cr which simultaneously confer resistance to fluorquinolones and aminoglycosides only in isolates from affluent waters.
Conclusion: The residual waters, upon arriving at urban wastewater treatment plant, are subjected to a depuration process to eliminate chemical and biological contaminants. However, our study revealed the presence of multiresistant bacteria in effluents, which allows their dissemination in the environment and its impact on public health.
P-glycoprotein (P-GP) is a transporter molecule expressed on the apical surface of capillary endothelial cells of the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB), whose activity heavily influences drug distribution, ...including antidepressants. This transporter is encoded by ABCB1 gene, and genetic variations within ABCB1 gene have been proposed to affect drug efflux and have been previously associated with depression. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the role of C1236T, G2677TA and C3435T ABCB1 genetic polymorphisms in antidepressant treatment phenotypes from a cohort of patients harboring Major Depressive Disorder. Patients enrolled in the study consisted of 80 individuals with Major Depressive Disorder, who took part in a 27-month follow-up study at HML, Portugal. To investigate the correlation between ABCB1 polymorphisms and antidepressant response phenotypes, DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and C1236T, C3435T and G2677TA polymorphisms were genotyped with TaqMansup.® SNP Genotyping Assays. Despite the fact that the evaluated polymorphisms (C1236T, C3435T and G2677TA) were not associated with treatment resistant depression, or relapse, we observed that patients carrying TT genotype of the C3435T polymorphism remit earlier than the ones carrying CC or CT genotypes (10.2 weeks vs. 14.9 and 21.3, respectively, p = 0.028, Log-rank test). Since we found an association with C3435T and time to remission, and not to the absence of remission, we suggest that this polymorphism could have an impact on antidepressant drug distribution, and thus influence on the time to remission will occur, without influencing the risk of remission itself.
Forest association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve the uptake of nutrients and hence the growth of host plants and it exerts a crucial role in tropical nutrient-poor soils. Our ...work aimed to verify if there is natural mycorrhizal colonization in Plathymenia reticulata and Dalbergia nigra monospecific plantations. Soil sampling was collected in the vicinity of the trees and fine roots were selected. The fine roots were washed, clarified and then stained. The spore isolation and identification were assessed by the wet sieving and sucrose density centrifugation. Both P. reticulata and D. nigra roots have fungal structures (vesicles and hyphae). The species Glomus macrocarpum and Ambispora leptoticha were identified in the soil under P. reticulata and Glomus macrocarpum, Glomus agregatum, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum in the soil under D. nigra. Both species can naturally be associated with AMF and we can suggest that different fungi are colonizing the roots of each species.
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Psychopathy encompasses an aggregation of interpersonal, affective, and behavioral traits that have been shown to be important in identifying persistent and violent antisocial adults. However, ...psychopathic traits may start to manifest during adolescence and continue to evolve throughout the personal development towards adulthood. The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) has been widely used to measure psychopathy in studies with children and adolescents, namely in forensic settings. We conducted a systematic review to establish reference values for YPI in children and adolescents both in forensic and community-dwelling samples. Studies related to the topic were obtained from multiple databases, through rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only papers with empirical and quantitative methodologies from scientific and academic publications were included. A total of 171 articles were identified and 40 were retained for this review. The results provided reference values by type of sample and sex, specifically pooled means, standard deviations, and variances. We also computed reference values for Europe, North America, and Asia, presenting pooled means, standard deviations, and variances in each case. This reference values can be useful for the application of the YPI and the interpretation of its results, both in clinical practice and in future research with children and adolescents.
•The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) has been extensive used.•YPI is an available screening measures to assess psychopathic traits in adolescents.•Meta-analytical procedures to identified references values for YPI.•Reference values for sample characteristics (e.g., community, forensic, sex, country).•Reference data is important to draw valid conclusions for clinical/forensic settings.
•Cortisol may be biological marker for a severe antisocial subgroup of adolescents.•Studies relating low cortisol levels to conduct problems and antisocial behavior.•Other factors may offer ...explanations for externalizing problems.•Environmental factors can influence the hypo(re)activity of the HPA axis.
Delinquent behavior describes one of the most severe forms of antisocial and aggressive behavior, causing the highest mental health and public expenditures of problematic behavior in adolescence. Literature suggests that different concentrations of cortisol may serve as a biological marker for a severe antisocial subgroup of adolescents, although from the environmental risk factors that play a role in the development of severe delinquent and aggressive behavior, other neurobiological factors may be important. This review aims to analyze the association of cortisol levels with the development of delinquent behavior. Studies related to the topic were obtained from multiple databases, through rigorous exclusion and inclusion criteria. Only papers with empirical and quantitative methodologies from scientific and academic publications were included. Aims, methodological aspects (sample and instruments), and main conclusions were extracted from each study. Overall, the data suggest that regardless of the literature relating low cortisol levels to conduct problems and antisocial behavior, the lack of consensus in the examined studies demonstrates that more studies are needed to reveal the role of biosocial mechanisms in this hormonal-behavior link, and how these mechanisms are involved in establishing and maintaining delinquent behavior.
Research in psychology has evolved over the decades creating a movement of greater emphasis on the assessment of strengths and positive characteristics, rather than focusing on risk factors and the ...diagnosis of pathology. The Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scale (SEARS) is an instrument for assessing the children’s strengths, resilience and adaptability in daily life, presenting a form completed by teachers. This study presents the factorial structure of the Portuguese version of teacher-report of SEARS and examines its psychometric properties, namely internal consistency and convergent validity, with a sample of 235 children (116 boys and 119 girls) aged between 5 and 10 years (
M
= 7.51,
SD
= 1.63). The factorial structure suggested by Merrell et al. (
2011
) was tested through a Confirmatory Factor Analyzes, with 41 items making up four factors (responsibility, self-competence, self-regulation, and empathy). In general, our findings support a final structure of 40 items divided into four subscales and provides evidence on the psychometric quality of this instrument. Limitations and future research needs are discussed.
Sexual violence is recognized as one of the most serious forms of violence. Assessment of individuals with history of sexual offenses is essential to inform placement decisions (e.g., inpatient or ...outpatient treatment, foster or residential placement), guide legal dispositions, prevent their offenses, and provide the basis for treatment planning. Insights into the neurobiological characteristics in subtypes of sexual offenses are particularly important both to the advancement of its understanding and guide research clinical efforts. The goal of this systematic review is to synthesize the findings regarding the neurobiological characteristics of individuals who have committed sexual offenses, focusing on the identification of the factors that should be targeted in the assessment of these individuals. Studies related to the topic were obtained from multiple databases, through rigorous exclusion and inclusion criteria. Only empirical studies with quantitative methodologies were included. Aims, methodological aspects (sample and instruments), and main conclusions were extracted from each study. In general, this systematic review found psychophysiological, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological studies, which used neurobiological techniques to evaluate individuals who have committed sexual offenses. A substantial part of the studies examined the neuroimaging profile of individuals who have committed sexual offenses against children with or without pedophilic interests, suggesting anatomical changes and functional deficits. Overall, there is enough evidence to support the link between specific neurobiological characteristics and sexual offenses, with this link being mainly revealed by neuroimaging and endocrinology studies. The knowledge about neurobiological characteristics implicated in sexual offending can help developing more accurate and valid protocols for the evaluation of individuals involved in such offenses, thereby improving diagnosis and treatment.
•There are a link between certain neurobiological characteristics and sexual offenses.•Psychophysiology, neuroimaging and neurophysiology assessments are used across different studies.•A substantial part of the studies examined the neuroimaging profiles.•Neuroimaging profiles suggesting anatomical changes and functional deficits.
The importance of assessing psychopathic traits in juveniles who have committed sexual offenses has been established in individuals who demonstrate a particularly severe and violent pattern of ...behavior. Additionally, the assessment of these traits in other juveniles might be relevant considering that higher levels of these traits represent an increased probability of the juvenile committing offenses. This study is a systematic review of the literature about the presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in juveniles who have committed sexual and non-sexual offenses, in order to ascertain eventual differences between these groups regarding the presence of CU traits. Studies were obtained from multiple databases, with predefined exclusion and inclusion criteria, according to PRISMA-P guidelines. A total of 18 studies were reviewed and included in the final analysis. The 18 studies used measures of CU traits and reported descriptive categories of CU traits in juveniles who have committed general offenses or juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. Meta-analytic procedures such as pooled means, pooled variances, and pooled standard deviations are presented in this study. The main conclusion obtained is that juveniles who have committed general offenses present higher levels of CU traits compared to juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. Although the review highlights limitations in the literature, the identification of these characteristics in different types of juveniles who have committed offenses is important to shed light on the phenomenon and develop interventions better suited to their characteristics. Recommendations for future research are also presented.
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