Characterization of Azorean Plant Leaves for Sustainable Valorization and Future Advanced Applications in the Food, Cosmetic, and Pharmaceutical Industries.

The historical use of plants as sources of natural compounds has persisted over time. Increasing the intake of bioactive substances shows significant potential for promoting overall well-being and health. This study delves into the pigments, phenolic composition, and profile, along with antioxidant properties, of leaf extracts rich in bioactives from plants in the Azores region, contributing to sustainable primary food production. Analyses encompassed chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenols, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant capacity assessment, polyphenolic profiling, and quantification. Psidium guajava L. and Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H.Rob. exhibited elevated chlorophyll content, while Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott displayed the highest carotenoid levels. Annona cherimola Mill., Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl, and Psidium guajava L. demonstrated pronounced total phenols, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids. These findings align with heightened antioxidant capacity. HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection) characterization unveiled elevated hydroxycinnamic acids in E. japonica and Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam. compared to A. cherimola Mill., while C. esculenta exhibited increased flavone content. Among the quantified compounds, flavonols were the ones that predominantly demonstrated contribution to the antioxidant capacity of these leaves. This research highlights Azorean leaf plants' antioxidant potential, fostering natural product development for better health.

Ethylene dimethanesulfonate effects on gene promoter activities related to the endocrine function of immortalized Leydig cell lines R2C and MA-10.

Ethylene dimethanesulfonate (EDS) is a molecule with known selective cytotoxicity on adult Leydig cells. A single intraperitoneal injection in rats but not mice, leads to male androgen deprivation and infertility. In vitro studies using rat and mouse immortalized Leydig cell lines, showed similar effects of cell death promoted by EDS in rat cells as seen in vivo, and suggest that EDS affects gene transcription, which could firstly compromise steroidogenesis before the apoptosis process. Using gene reporter assay, this study aimed to investigate EDS effects on the promoter activity of genes important for endocrine function (Star, Insl3) and response to toxic agents (Gsta3) in immortalized Leydig cell lines (rat R2C and mouse MA-10 cells), as well as identify possible EDS-responsive elements in the Star gene promoter. EDS exposure of R2C and MA-10 Leydig cells increased Gsta3 promoter activity after 4 h of treatment and decreased Insl3 promoter activity only in R2C cells after 24 h of treatment. EDS also decreased Star promoter activity in both Leydig cell lines. Using R2C cells, the EDS-responsive region in the Star promoter was located between -400 and -195 bp. This suggests that this region and the associated transcription factors, which include MEF2, might be targeted by EDS. Additional somatic gonadal cell lines expressing Star were used and EDS did not affect Star promoter activity in DC3 granulosa cells while Star promoter activity was increased in MSC-1 Sertoli cells after 24 h of treatment. This study contributes to the knowledge regarding the mechanism of EDS action in Leydig cells, and in other gonadal cell lineages, and brings new light regarding the rats and mice differential susceptibility to EDS effects, in addition to providing new avenues for experimental approaches to better understand Leydig cell function and dynamics in different rodent species.

Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Cognition, Anxiety, and Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals: A Controlled Clinical Trial.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has gained popularity as a method of modulating cortical excitability in people with physical and mental disabilities. However, there is a lack of consensus on its effectiveness in older individuals. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a 2-month tDCS program for improving physical and mental performance in community-dwelling older individuals. In this single-blinded, controlled clinical trial, forty-two participants were allocated to one of three groups: (1) the tDCS group, which received, twice a week, 20 min sessions of 2 mA electric current through electrodes placed on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; (2) the tDCS-placebo group, which underwent the same electrode placement as the tDCS group but without actual electric stimulation; and (3) the cognitive-control group, which completed crossword puzzles. Main outcome measures were cognition, mobility, and anxiety. Multivariate analyses of variance were employed. Significance was set at 5% (p < 0.05). Regarding the results, no significant benefits were observed in the tDCS group compared with the tDCS-placebo or cognitive-control groups for cognition (p = 0.557), mobility (p = 0.871), or anxiety (p = 0.356). Cognition exhibited positive oscillations during the assessments (main effect of time: p = 0.001). However, given that all groups showed similar variations in cognitive scores (main effect of group: p = 0.101; group × time effect: p = 0.557), it is more likely that the improvement reflects the learning response of the participants to the cognitive tests rather than the effect of tDCS. In conclusion, a 2-month tDCS program with two sessions per week appears to be ineffective in improving physical and mental performance in community-dwelling older individuals. Further studies are necessary to establish whether or not tDCS is effective in healthy older individuals.

Statin exposure during pregnancy promotes neuromuscular junction alterations in postpartum Wistar rats.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) remain unclear. Pregnancy is associated with increased cholesterol levels. Statins may be useful during pregnancy, but their safety is uncertain. Hence, we investigated the postpartum effects of exposure to rosuvastatin and simvastatin during pregnancy in Wistar rats, targeting the neuromuscular structures. METHODS: Twenty-one pregnant Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (C) treated with vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide + dH20), simvastatin (S) 62.5 mg/kg/day, and rosuvastatin (R) 10 mg/kg/day. Gavage was performed daily from the gestational days 8 to 20. At weaning, the postpartum mother tissues were collected and subjected to morphological and morphometric analysis of the soleus muscle, associated neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and the sciatic nerve; protein quantification; quantification of the cholesterol and creatine kinase in the serum; and intramuscular collagen analysis. RESULTS: An increase in morphometric parameters (area, maximum and minimum diameters, Feret diameter, and minimum Feret) was observed in NMJs from the S and R groups in comparison with the C group, and there was also a loss of common NMJ circularity. The number of myofibers with central nuclei was higher in S (17 ± 3.9, P = .0083) and R (18.86 ± 14.42, P = .0498) than in C (6.8 ± 2.6). DISCUSSION: Gestational exposure to statins induced postpartum NMJ morphology alterations in soleus muscle, which may be caused by the remodeling of clusters of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This may be associated with the development and progression of SAMS observed in clinical practice.

SP22 sperm protein as a potential biomarker of fertility in humans: A preliminary study.

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples of reproductive age, and 50% of the cases are directly related to men. The evaluation of male fertility is based on analyses of routine seminal parameters and the use of more advanced techniques can help identify fertility biomarkers. SP22 sperm protein is considered a biomarker in murine species since its concentration is highly correlated with sperm fertility. As the role of this protein as a biomarker is already well-established in other species, we hypothesized that this same correlation could apply to human. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate possible correlations between SP22 concentration and sperm parameters in fertile and infertile men. For this, a study was carried out on 21 volunteers' seminal samples who were grouped according to fertility as fertile (n = 10) or infertile (n = 11). Conventional and functional sperm analyses, membrane protein extraction, quantification and immunolocalization of SP22 were performed. The infertile volunteers showed an increase in the percentage of sperm with abnormalities in head morphology and a decrease in the percentage of sperm with intact plasma membrane and damaged acrosomal membrane. Serum concentration of the hormone SHBG was also decreased in infertile volunteers. The damage to the plasma membrane was positively correlated with the superoxide anion production. Although none of the functional parameters were correlated with SP22 concentration, type D sperm motility was negatively correlated and type A+B sperm motility was positively correlated. This preliminary study opens new paths in the characterization of SP22 as a non-invasive biomarker for predicting fertility/infertility.

Prenatal exposure to sertraline, associated or not with stress, can negatively program somatic and neurobehavioral development of female rats, and dysregulate reproductive function in adulthood.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed to pregnant women for treating mental illnesses. Among the drugs of this class, sertraline (ST) is the antidepressant therapy recommended most frequently. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of gestational ST treatment on reproductive parameters and toxicological target organs of rat female offspring, as well as on somatic, reflex and neurobehavioral development, in a model of maternal adversity. Pregnant Wistar rats received vehicle (filtered water) or ST hydrochloride (20 mg/Kg/day diluted in vehicle) by oral gavage, associated or not with restraint stress for 1 h/day from gestational days 13-20. F1 female offspring was evaluated on reproductive parameters, body weight and somatic and reflex milestones from postnatal day (PND) 1. On PNDs 25 and 72, the elevated-plus-maze test was performed, while toxicological target organs were evaluated on PNDs 42 and 80. In utero exposure to ST, regardless of exposure to stress, reduced body weight at birth and affected the somatic development and estrous cycle. The absolute and relative thyroid weights were increased in Stress/ST group during puberty and adulthood, while the percentage of ovarian structures and the absolute uterine weight were altered in this group on PND 80. Prenatal exposure only to ST reduced initial body weight gain, delayed fur development and increased anxiety-like behavior on PND 25. Thus, this experimental study suggests that intrauterine exposure to ST disrupts the fetal environment and can negatively program serotonin-regulated processes. Furthermore, it impacts thyroid weight when associated with stress.

Reproductive outcomes of neonatal exposure to betamethasone in male and female rats.

Betamethasone (BM) is the drug of choice for antenatal corticosteroid therapy for women at risk of preterm delivery because it induces fetal lung maturation and enhances survival after birth. However, our group reported evidence of fetal programming and impaired reproductive development and function in rats exposed during the critical window of genital system development. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of BM on the sexual development of rats in the period that corresponds to antenatal corticosteroid therapy in humans. Male and female rats were exposed subcutaneously to BM at 0.1 µg/g of pups' body weight or to a NaCl 0.9% solution (control) on postnatal days 1-3. It was observed that neonatal exposure to BM decreased body weight and weight gain in male and female rats during treatment. The estrous cycle was deregulated and LH level was decreased in female rats. In male rats, the sperm concentration in the caput-corpus of the epididymis was decreased, whereas the sperm transit time and sperm concentration in the cauda of the epididymis were increased. Our results demonstrated that neonatal exposure to BM impaired body growth of male and female rats, deregulated the estrous cycle of female rats, and altered sperm quality of male rats. Therefore, BM exposure from postnatal days 1 to 3 corroborated results previously observed after prenatal exposure to this drug. Despite the recognized importance of human antenatal corticosteroid therapy, the findings of this study should encourage further studies in order to minimize possible adverse postnatal effects.

Reproductive Development of Male Rats Exposed In Utero to Stress and/or Sertraline.

Despite increased prescription of sertraline during pregnancy, little is known about its action on reproductive development. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact that stress, associated or not with sertraline, causes on the reproductive development of male rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 16/group): CO-received filtered water; SE-received 20 mg/kg sertraline; ST-submitted to restraint stress and received filtered water; SS-submitted to restraint stress and received sertraline. The treatment was carried out from gestational days (GDs) 13-20. The animals were euthanized on GD 20 (n = 8/group), postnatal day (PND) 45 (n = 8/group), and PND 110 (n = 8/group). The testes and epididymis were analyzed histologically, and immunohistochemistry was performed on the testes by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the Wilms tumor protein (Wt1). Sperm quality was also analyzed on PND 110. The evolution of body weight, anogenital distance (AGD), and puberty installation day were also verified. Statistical analysis: 2-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (p ≤ .05). Fetal testes presented a large number of acidophilic cells in the sertraline-exposed groups. The SS group also showed a decrease in the nuclear volume of Leydig cells. This same group showed low expression of PCNA and Wt1, decreased weight of the testes and epididymis, lower AGD, and delayed puberty installation. The adulthood groups exposed to sertraline presented alterations in sperm morphology and motility. The results demonstrated that prenatal exposure to sertraline compromises the development of the rat reproductive system.

Lithium in Drinking Water as a Public Policy for Suicide Prevention: Relevance and Considerations.

Although suicide is considered a major preventable cause of mortality worldwide, we do not have effective strategies to prevent it. Lithium has been consistently associated with lowering risk of suicide. This effect could occur at very low concentrations, such as trace doses of lithium in tap water. Several ecological studies and recent meta-analysis have suggested an inverse association between lithium in water and suicide in the general population, with a lack of knowledge of clinically significant side effects. This paper is aimed as a proposal to discuss the addition of lithium to drinking water to decrease the suicide rate. For this, we review the evidence available, use previous experiences, such as water fluoridation to prevent dental caries, and discuss the complexity involved in such a public policy. Considering the limited data available and the controversies contained in this proposal, we suggest that a consensus on lithium concentration in water is needed, where the suicide rates start to reduce, as happened with water fluoridation. This measure will require to develop community-controlled trials with strict monitoring of any side effects, where democratic procedures would constitute one of the most appropriate ways to validate its implementation according to the reality of each community.

Rosuvastatin exposure in female Wistar rats alters uterine contractility and do not show evident (anti)estrogenic effects.

Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor drugs that lead to serum-cholesterol-lowering effects. Rosuvastatin, a third-generation statin, has shown better results in reducing cholesterol concentrations when compared to other widely prescribed statins. Recent studies by our group reported that rosuvastatin impairs reproductive function in rats possibly by disrupting the reproductive-endocrine axis. In this study, we evaluated whether rosuvastatin presents estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects, by an in vivo uterotrophic assay in rats, and investigated the direct effect of this drug upon rat uterine tissue contractility both in non-gravid and gravid periods. Rosuvastatin exposure in vivo at doses of 0 (control), 3, and 10 mg/kg/d was not associated with estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects on uterine tissue. However, in vivo (doses of 0, 3, and 10 mg/kg/d) and ex vivo (concentrations of 0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL) exposures to this drug were related to alterations in uterine basal contraction pattern. Furthermore, in vivo and ex vivo rosuvastatin exposures potentially modulate the action of uterine contraction inducers carbachol, norepinephrine, and prostaglandin E2. Thus, rosuvastatin can affect uterine physiology not necessarily by an endocrine mechanism related to the estrogen signaling, but possibly by its pleiotropic effects, with indirect tissue and cellular interactions, since in vivo and ex vivo exposures of uterine fragments to rosuvastatin presented different responses in uterine contractile parameters, which require further studies upon the precise mechanism of action of this drug in female reproductive function.

Mental Pain Surrounding Suicidal Behaviour: A Review of What Has Been Described and Clinical Recommendations for Help.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive review of scientific publications related to mental pain and suicide risk in order to deepen relevant aspects to guide clinical interventions. METHOD: Using a text analysis tool, we collected the terms most frequently linked with that situation in published results of research using various tools to evaluate mental pain or psychache. DISCUSSION: We propose clinical interventions for the clinical conditions most commonly associated with mental pain.

Recognizing states of psychological vulnerability to suicidal behavior: a Bayesian network of artificial intelligence applied to a clinical sample.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine conditional dependence relationships of variables that contribute to psychological vulnerability associated with suicide risk. A Bayesian network (BN) was developed and applied to establish conditional dependence relationships among variables for each individual subject studied. These conditional dependencies represented the different states that patients could experience in relation to suicidal behavior (SB). The clinical sample included 650 mental health patients with mood and anxiety symptomatology. RESULTS: Mainly indicated that variables within the Bayesian network are part of each patient's state of psychological vulnerability and have the potential to impact such states and that these variables coexist and are relatively stable over time. These results have enabled us to offer a tool to detect states of psychological vulnerability associated with suicide risk. CONCLUSION: If we accept that suicidal behaviors (vulnerability, ideation, and suicidal attempts) exist in constant change and are unstable, we can investigate what individuals experience at specific moments to become better able to intervene in a timely manner to prevent such behaviors. Future testing of the tool developed in this study is needed, not only in specialized mental health environments but also in other environments with high rates of mental illness, such as primary healthcare facilities and educational institutions.

Short- and long-term effects on reproductive parameters of female Wistar rats after exposure to rosuvastatin starting in pre-puberty.

Statins are a class of drugs that act lowering lipid levels by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis. Additionally, statins can act by "pleiotropic effects", related to the inhibition of synthesis of the other mevalonate pathway products. Rosuvastatin is a third-generation statin and has shown better results in reducing cholesterol concentrations when compared to other statins. Recent studies suggest that rosuvastatin may act as an endocrine disruptor that potentially damages the hormonal axis and, consequently reproductive development and function of male rats. However, the effects of rosuvastatin exposure on rat female reproductive parameters remain unknown. In this study female rats were exposed to rosuvastatin at the doses of 0 (control), 3, or 10 mg/Kg.bw-1/day from pre-puberty to adulthood. No alterations in the female reproductive parameters were observed at a dose of 3 mg/Kg.bw-1. However, females exposed to 10 mg/Kg.bw-1 exhibited shorter estrous cycles, altered copulatory behavior, decreased serum prolactin level, and alterations in the liver, pituitary and placental weights, parameters to some extent influenced by the reproductive hormonal axis signaling pathway. On the other hand, pubertal onset, reproductive hormone levels, fertility, and histological parameters of the ovary, uterus, and placenta were unaltered by exposure to both doses of this statin. Thus, rosuvastatin exposure, at the higher dose, altered the reproductive function of female rats, probably due to the pleiotropic effects of this statin. Additional studies on the effects of this statin on female reproductive function and development are encouraged to better characterize its mode of action.

Produção da Psicologia no Brasil sobre mulheres rurais: revisão sistemática / Psychology publications about rural women in Brazil: a systematic review / Producción de la Psicología en Brasil sobre mujeres rurales: revisión sistemática

O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar as produções científicas na área da Psicologia no que diz respeito às mulheres em contextos rurais no Brasil. Realizada nas bases da BVS-Psi, SciELO, PePSIC, LILACS, BDTD, Portal CAPES, com os seguintes descritores de busca: "psicologia" AND "mulheres" AND "rural". Foram selecionados 22 estudos (14 artigos e 8 teses/dissertações). Os estudos versam sobre: a) movimento social e participação política; b) jovens mulheres e ruralidade e c) condições de vida, saúde mental e suporte psicossocial

The present study aimed to investigate scientific publication in Psychology regarding women in the rural context in Brazil. The search included the databases BVS-Psi, SciELO, PePSIC, LILACS, BDTD, Portal CAPES using the search terms "psychology" AND "women" AND "rural". Twenty two studies were selected (14 journal articles and 8 thesis/dissertations). The studies were about: a) social movement and political participation; b) young women and rurality and c) living conditions, mental health and psycho-social support

El presente estudio tiene por objetivo investigar las producciones científicas en el área de la Psicología en lo que se refiere a las mujeres en contextos rurales en Brasil. Llevadas a cabo en las bases de la BVS-Psi, SciELO, PePSIC, LILACS, BDTD, Portal CAPES, con los siguientes descriptores de búsqueda: "psicología" AND "mujeres" AND "rural". Se seleccionaron 22 estudios (14 artículos y 8 tesis/disertaciones). Los estudios versan sobre: a) movimiento social y participación política; b) jóvenes mujeres y ruralidad y c) condiciones de vida, salud mental y apoyo psicosocial

Utilização da Aprendizagem Baseada em Equipes como Método de Avaliação no Curso de Medicina / The Use Of Team-Based Learning As An Evaluation Method On The Medicine Course

RESUMO A educação de adultos pressupõe a utilização de metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem, que proponham concretamente desafios a serem superados pelos estudantes, tendo o professor como facilitador e orientador do processo. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar o uso da Aprendizagem Baseada em Equipes (ABE) como estratégia de avaliação dos alunos na disciplina Interação Ensino-Serviço na Comunidade (Iesc) no curso de Medicina. A aplicação da ABE ocorreu em duas turmas da Iesc, respeitando as três etapas previstas na metodologia. A experiência obtida com a aplicação da ABE em substituição à prova tradicional demonstrou aspectos relevantes, como: na preparação, é fundamental que o acadêmico se comprometa a estudar os temas propostos; a utilização de aplicativo foi uma estratégia inovadora; o desempenho da equipe superou o individual. A aplicação dos conceitos ocorreu nas aulas de campo da Iesc, pois esta propõe a observação de casos clínicos reais nas unidades de saúde e comunidade, utilizando os conhecimentos teóricos adquiridos para direcionar intervenções. A aplicação da ABE se mostrou um método eficiente para avaliação na Iesc, que se pauta na perspectiva da interação e processos colaborativos. O uso do recurso tecnológico como ferramenta despertou interesse entre os estudantes, minimizando a tensão que geralmente ocorre durante o processo da avaliação tradicional. É importante que os cursos de formação em saúde façam uma análise constante para que práticas do ensino tradicional não sejam supervalorizadas em detrimento das práticas ativas de aprendizagem.

ABSTRACT Adult education presupposes the use of active teaching and learning methodologies that propose challenges to be overcome by students, with the teacher acting as facilitator and guiding the process. The objective of this study was to report the use of Team-Based Learning (TBL) as one of the methods used to evaluate students in the subject Teaching-Service interaction in the Community (IESC), of the Medicine Course. TBL was applied with two classes IESC classes. The experience gained through the application of TBL, instead of the traditional test, demonstrated some relevant aspects, for example: in the preparation, it is fundamental that the student is committed to studying the proposed topics; the use of application was an innovative strategy that motivated the academics to participate actively in the process; the performance of the team took precedence over individual performance. The concepts learned were put into practice in the IESC field classes, since they involve observation of real clinical cases in the Health Units and in the community, using the theoretical knowledge acquired, in the interventions. The application of TBL proved to be an efficient evaluation method in the IESC, which is based on the perspective of interaction and collaborative processes. The use of the technological resource as a tool sparked the students' interest, minimizing the stress that usually occurs during the traditional assessment. It is important that health training courses provide a review, to ensure that traditional teaching practices are not given too much weight, at the expense of active learning practices.

Sleep and Neurochemical Modulation by DZNep and GSK-J1: Potential Link With Histone Methylation Status.

Histone methylation/demethylation plays an important modulatory role in chromatin restructuring, RNA transcription and is essential for controlling a plethora of biological processes. Due to many human diseases have been related to histone methylation/demethylation, several compounds such as 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) or 3-((6-(4,5-Dihydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-3(2H)-yl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)propanoic acid; N-[2-(2-pyridinyl)-6-(1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-3H-3-benzazepin-3-yl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-ß-Alanine (GSK-J1), have been designed to inhibit histone methylase or suppress histone demethylase, respectively. In the present study, we investigated the effects on the sleep-wake cycle and sleep-related neurochemical levels after systemic injections of DZNep or GSK-J1 given during the light or dark phase in rats. DZNep dose-dependently (0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) prolonged wakefulness (W) duration while decreased slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) time spent during the lights-on period with no changes observed in dark phase. In opposite direction, GSK-J1 (0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) injected at the beginning of the lights-on period induced no statistical changes in W, SWS, or REMS whereas if administered at darkness, we found a diminution in W and an enhancement in SWS and REMS. Finally, brain microdialysis experiments in freely moving animals were used to evaluate the effects of DZNep or GSK-J1 treatments on contents of sleep-related neurochemicals. The results showed that DZNep boosted extracellular levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, adenosine, and acetylcholine if injected at the beginning of the lights-on period whereas GSK-J1 exerted similar outcomes but when administered at darkness. In summary, DZNep and GSK-J1 may control the sleep-wake cycle and sleep-related neurochemicals through histone methylation/demethylation activity.

Suicide risk configuration system in a clustered clinical sample: a generalized linear model obtained through the LASSO technique

Objective: To identify clinical and sociodemographic factors that increase or decrease suicidal risk in a clinical sample of subjects seeking mental health care. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed at three health centers in Santiago, Chile. The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Depressive Experience Questionnaire (DEQ), Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2), Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), and State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2), in addition to a sociodemographic survey, were applied to 544 participants (333 with suicidal behavior and 211 without current suicidal behavior). Through hierarchical clustering analysis, participants were grouped by similarity regarding suicidal risk. Then, a regression analysis was performed using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) technique, and factors that decrease or increase suicide risk (SR) were identified for each cluster. Results: The resultant clusters were grouped mainly by the age of participants. The most important protective factor was having confidence in one's own coping skills in difficult situations. Relevant risk factors were major depressive disorder (MDD), poor anger management, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Conclusions: Suicidal risk manifests differently throughout the life cycle, and different types of bonds may protect from or increase risk of suicide.

Ascorbic acid supplementation ameliorates testicular hormonal signaling, sperm production and oxidative stress in male rats exposed to rosuvastatin during pre-puberty.

Dyslipidemias are occurring earlier in the population due to the augmentation of obesity. Rosuvastatin reduces cholesterol and triglycerides; however, previous studies have shown that it may affect male reproduction. Ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant compound, plays a protective role in the male reproductive system. This study aimed to evaluate whether pre-pubertal exposure to rosuvastatin may impair testicular structure and antioxidant status in male rats and if supplementation with AA may alleviate these damages. Male rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups (n = 10) on postnatal day (PND) 23 and received the different treatments by gavage from PND 23 to 53. The experimental groups received vehicle (saline solution 0.9%), 3 or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin diluted in saline solution 0.9%, supplementation with 150 mg/day of AA, 3 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin in association with 150 mg/day of AA or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin associated with 150 mg/day of AA. Testicular parameters were assessed on PND 53 and 110. There were diminished androgen receptors staining in the Sertoli cells and increased germ cell death in rosuvastatin-exposed groups, in both periods. Spermatids showed lower estrogen alpha-receptors staining in the group exposed to 10 mg of statin at adulthood. There were androgen depletion and increased lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in statin-exposed groups. Rosuvastatin exposure during pre-puberty impaired testicular structure, steroid receptor distribution and increased oxidative stress; however, AA was able to ameliorate the impairment provoked by statin exposure.

Suicide risk configuration system in a clustered clinical sample: a generalized linear model obtained through the LASSO technique.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and sociodemographic factors that increase or decrease suicidal risk in a clinical sample of subjects seeking mental health care. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was performed at three health centers in Santiago, Chile. The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Depressive Experience Questionnaire (DEQ), Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2), Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), and State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2), in addition to a sociodemographic survey, were applied to 544 participants (333 with suicidal behavior and 211 without current suicidal behavior). Through hierarchical clustering analysis, participants were grouped by similarity regarding suicidal risk. Then, a regression analysis was performed using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) technique, and factors that decrease or increase suicide risk (SR) were identified for each cluster. RESULTS: The resultant clusters were grouped mainly by the age of participants. The most important protective factor was having confidence in one's own coping skills in difficult situations. Relevant risk factors were major depressive disorder (MDD), poor anger management, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal risk manifests differently throughout the life cycle, and different types of bonds may protect from or increase risk of suicide.

Impact of intrauterine exposure to betamethasone on the testes and epididymides of prepubertal rats.

Therapy with betamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is used in cases of preterm birth risk, in order to promote fetal lung maturation, and decrease neonatal mortality and morbidity. However, late reproductive disorders related to the prenatal exposure to this compound have been reported by our Laboratory, in both male and female rats. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of betamethasone on postnatal reproductive development, during pre-puberty, of male offspring exposed in utero to this synthetic glucocorticoid. For this purpose, pregnant Wistar rats were allocated into two groups: Control, treated with saline, and the group treated with betamethasone at 0.1 mg/kg/day. Control and betamethasone groups were treated with intramuscular injection on gestational days 12, 13, 18 and 19, critical days of prenatal reproductive development. The treatment is associated with reduced body and organ weights, disorders in initial reproductive parameters of pre-pubertal male offspring exposed in utero to betamethasone, such as reduction of anogenital distance, alterations in histomorphometric parameters and immunostaining pattern of androgen and estrogen receptors on testicles and epididymides. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to betamethasone potentially causes reproductive reprogramming and impairs male postnatal reproductive development. This data raise concerns about the use of betamethasone for human antenatal therapy.