Tipos de configuração familiar e condições de saúde física e psicológica em idosos / Family configuration and physical and psychological health status in a sample of elderly / Tipos de configuración familiar y condiciones de salud física y psicológica en ancianos

Investigamos relações entre configuração familiar (arranjo de moradia, chefia familiar e contribuição financeira para o sustento da família), idade, sexo e condições de saúde física (capacidade funcional, número de doenças e de sinais e sintomas, e envolvimento social) e saúde psicológica (depressão e ansiedade) em idosos, conforme autorrelato. A amostra probabilística tinha 134 idosos sem déficit cognitivo e os dados foram coletados por entrevista domiciliar. Foi feita análise de conglomerados mediante o método da partição (três agrupamentos). As variáveis que mais contribuíram para a formação dos grupos foram as atividades básicas (R2 = 0,732) e instrumentais da vida diária (R2 = 0,487), o número de doenças (R2 = 0,241) e a idade (R2 = 0,225). A configuração familiar predominante foi corresidência com os descendentes, sendo os idosos provedores e chefes de família. Foram encontradas relações entre configuração familiar, condições de saúde física e saúde psicológica. As mulheres apresentaram maior ônus financeiro e pior saúde física e psicológica do que os homens.

This study focused on the relations between family configuration (living arrangements, heads of family, and financial contributions to the family's support), age, gender, and physical health (functional capacity, number of diseases and signs and symptoms, and social involvement) and psychological health (depression and anxiety) among the elderly, based on self-reported data. The probabilistic sample included 134 elderly without cognitive deficit, with data collected in home interviews. Cluster analyses were performed using the partitioning method (three groupings). The variables that contributed the most to forming groups were basic activities of daily living (R2 = 0.732) and instrumental activities of daily living (R2 = 0.487), number of diseases (R2 = 0.241), and age (R2 = 0.225). The predominant family configuration was living with children and/or grandchildren, with the elderly as providers and heads of the family. The study showed associations between family configuration and physical and psychological health status. Women showed a higher financial burden and worse psychological health than men.

Hemos investigado las relaciones entre la configuración familiar (arreglo de la vivienda familiar, liderazgo y contribución financiera para la familia), edad, sexo y condiciones de salud física (capacidad funcional, número de signos y síntomas, enfermedades y participación social) y salud psicológica (depresión y ansiedad) de ancianos, según el mismo informe. La muestra probabilística fue 134 personas mayores sin déficit cognitivo y los datos recogidos por entrevista domiciliaria. Se crearon por el método de análisis de conglomerados de partición (tres grupos). Las variables que han contribuido más a la formación de los grupos fueron actividades básicas (R2 = 0,732) y actividades instrumentales de la vida cotidiana (R2 = 0,487), el número de enfermedades (R2 = 0,241) y edad (R2 = 0,225). Predominaron los arreglos con los descendientes, siendo los ancianos proveedores y sostén de la familia. Las relaciones encontradas entre configuración familiar, las condiciones de salud física y psicológica fueron importantes. Las mujeres tuvieron mayor carga financiera y peor salud psicológica y física que los hombres.

Molecular cloning, purification and characterization of thermostable -1,3-1,4 glucanase from Bacillus subtilis A8-8.

A gene encoding a -1,3-1,4-glucanase (CelA) belonging to family 5 of glycoside hydrolases was cloned and sequenced from the Bacillus subtilis A8-8. The open-reading-frame of celA comprised 1499 base pairs and the enzyme was composed of 500 amino acids with a molecular mass of 55 kDa. The recombinant -1,3-1,4 glucanase was purified by GST-fusion purification system. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were 8.0 and 60oC, respectively. The enzyme was stable within pH 6.0-9.0. It was stable up to 60oC and retained 30% of its original activity at 70oC for 60 min. It hydrolyzed lichenan, CMC, xylan, laminarin, avicel and pNPC, but was inactive towards cellobiose. The enzyme activity was markedly activated by Co2+ and Mn2+, but was strongly inactivated by Fe3+. The truncated gene, devoid of cellulose-binding domain (CBD) showed 60% of activity and bound to avicel.

Isolation of 4-aminopyridine resistant mutants affecting alkali-insoluble glucan content of cell walls in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells when grown on synthetic medium plates containing 10 mM of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) undergo cell lysis. Using an ethylmethane sulfonate mutagenesis (EMS) screen, 4-AP resistant mutants (apr) were isolated which could grow on inhibitory concentration of 4-AP. Eighty mutants were obtained that were recessive, monogenic and formed two complementation groups. To identify genes, whose products might be interacting with the apr loci, extragenic suppressors were isolated, which reverted 4-AP resistance phenotype of apr mutants. The suppressors, when genetically characterized, were found to be recessive and represented two loci with overlapping functions. Representative alleles from apr mutants were analyzed for cell wall composition. They were found to have a higher amount of alkali-insoluble glucan signifying the role of alkali-insoluble glucan in cell wall maintenance.