Práticas alimentares no primeiro ano de vida: representações sociais de mães adolescentes / Eating habits in the first year of life: social representations of young mothers / Los hábitos de alimentación en el primer año de vida: las representaciones sociales de las madres adolescentes

Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa exploratória, que buscou analisar as representações sociais de mães adolescentes sobre as práticas alimentares do filho no primeiro ano de vida. Teve como sujeitos 10 mães adolescentes, cujos filhos encontravam-se na faixa etária de sete a doze meses de vida. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada, além da utilização de material visual. A análise seguiu a técnica de análise de conteúdo, apoiando-se no referencial da Teoria das Representações Sociais. Dessa análise, emergiram quatro temas: conflito do amamentar versus consagração do mingau; estabelecendo a alimentação complementar do filho; discurso cristalizado: "danoninho vale mais que um bifinho"; a (in)definição dos hábitos alimentares maternos: implicações para a alimentação infantil. As representações que conduzem as práticas maternas na escolha, preparo e oferta dos alimentos seguem uma lógica particular, onde as adolescentes reinterpretam os discursos técnicos nos termos da sua cultura.

This is qualitative research that investigates the social representations of adolescent mothers on child eating habits in the first year of life. Its subjects were 10 adolescent mothers, whose children were aged seven to twelve months. Data were collected through semi-structured interview, besides the use of visual material. The analysis followed the technique of content analysis, relying on the framework of Social Representations Theory. That analysis revealed four themes: the conflict of breastfeeding versus consecration of porridge; establishing complementary feeding of the child; crystallized speech: "yogurt is better than a little steak"; the (un)definition of maternal eating habits: implications for infant feeding. The representations that drive maternal practices in selecting, preparing and offering food follow a particular logic, where adolescents reinterpret technical speeches in terms of their culture.

Esta es una investigación cualitativa que investiga las representaciones sociales de madres adolescentes en las prácticas de alimentación infantil en el primer año de vida. El estudio incluyó a 10 madres adolescentes cuyos hijos tenían entre siete a doce meses. Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante entrevista semiestructurada, además de la utilización de material visual. El análisis se realizó por la técnica de análisis de contenido, basándose en el marco de la teoría de las representaciones sociales. Ese análisis revelo cuatro temas: el conflicto de la lactancia materna frente a la consagración de la papilla; el establecimiento de alimentación complementaria del niño; discurso cristalizado "el yogur es mejor que un filete"; la dieta materna sin definición: implicaciones para la alimentación infantil. Las representaciones que impulsan prácticas maternas en la selección, preparación y oferta de alimentos siguen una lógica particular, donde las adolescentes reinterpretan intervenciones técnicas en términos de su cultura.

Anti-depressant like activity of N-n-butyl-3-methoxyquinoxaline-2-carboxamide (6o) a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.

The compound 6o (at 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, ip) with optimum log P and pA2 value, was subjected to forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The compound 6o significantly reduced the duration of immobility in mice without affecting the base line locomotion in actophotometer. Moreover, 6o (2 mg/kg, ip), potentiated the 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitch responses in mice and at 1 and 2 mg/kg, ip antagonized the reserpine-induced hypothermia (RIH) in rats. In interaction studies with various standard drugs/ligands using FST, 6o (1 and 2 mg/kg, ip) potentiated the anti-depressant effect fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, ip) and reversed the depressant effect of parthenolide (1 mg/kg, ip) by reducing the duration of immobility. Furthermore, 6o (1 and 2 mg/kg, ip) potentiated the effect of bupropion (10 mg/kg, ip) in TST. The behavioural anomalies of the olfactory bulbectomised (OBX) rats were augmented by chronic 6o (1 and 2 mg/kg) treatment as observed from the modified open field test (parameters: ambulation, rearing, fecal pellet). The results suggest that compound 6o exhibited anti-depressant like effect in rodent models of depression.

Morphological and quantitative features of mitral cells in the rat olfactory bulb after administration of propranolol

To determine the cytoplasmic morphological changes in the mitral cells and quantitative changes [number of mitral cells and thickness of mitral cell layer in microns] in the rat olfactory bulb after administration of propranolol. Experimental study. The Department of Anatomy, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, from January 2006 to January 2007. Twenty samples were obtained from two randomly divided groups of rats, each comprising 10 animals for control and experimental work respectively. Each group was treated with normal saline [5 ml/kg] and propranolol [1 mg/kg] respectively for one month. The skull was fixed in 20% formalin for 10 days and decalcified in 10% formalin/10% nitric acid. The olfactory bulb along with olfactory cortex was dissected. After processing, 10 microns thick sections were obtained. The slides were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and Bielschowksy's silver stain [Glees-Marsland modification] and studied under light microscope. The morphology, quantitative analysis of mitral cell layer and the number of mitral cells were studied in the histological study and compared using t-test with significance at p < 0.05. In the propranolol treated group changes observed in the morphology of the mitral cells included presence of cytoplasmic vacuoles at the periphery of the cells. There was significant increase in the thickness of mitral cell layer and number of the mitral cell in the propranolol treated group [p < 0.05]. This study showed morphological and quantitative changes in the olfactory bulb in response to treatment with propranolol, hence it has implications in odour induced learning

Natriuretic peptides in the rat ofactory system

The olfactory system plays an important role in the mobilization of animal behaviour, along with the sense of taste. These functions are mediated by a complex olfactory structure composed of peripheral (olfactory epithelium) and central (olfactory bulb) components. Several neuropeptides are synthesized in the olfactory system and are believed to be involved in olfactive processing. Recently, another bioactive substance, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), has been demonstrated in the olfactory system. ANP is a potent diuretic, natriuretic and vasorelaxant hormone which, originally, was isolated from mammalian atria, but its gene is expressed in many loci. ANP is only one member of the natriuretic peptide (NP) family, which includes two other peptides, BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide) derived from different genes. All three peptides show many common features. A high concentration of ANP-immunoreactive varicose fibers has been detected in the rat olfactory nerve layer and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb (OB). An important group of perykarya and thin varicose fibers has been observed in the olfactory tubercle. We have demonstrated the presence of both ANP precursor and ANP gene transcript in the rat olfactory bulb. In addition to synthesizing ANP, the OB contains ANP transducing receptors coupled to guanylyl-cyclase system. The immunoreactive ANP has also been detected in the rat olfactory mucosa (OM), where ANP has been localized in secretory cells of Bowman's gland and in the cells of the epithelial layer. The relatively low concentration of ANP in OM (2.5 ng/mg protein) suggests a local role for ANP, a hypothesis which is strengthened by the presence of ANP high affinity receptors in this tissue. Although the role of ANP in the olfactory system is not yet clear, ANP has been shown to modulate olfactory bulb mitochondrial membrane activity and to be involved in the olfactive function.